[Objective] The relationship between natural plant community characteristics and soil physi-chemical factors in Ningdong mining area was studied, in order to provide basis for the selection of plant species for vegetation reconstruction in Ningdong mining area.[Methods] Six typical natural plant communities and soils in Ningdong mining area were taken as the research objects, and field investigation combined with indoor experiment were conducted to compare and analyze the plant community characteristics of different communities and their relationship with soil physi-chemical properties.[Results] A total of 55 plant species were found in 6 natural plant communities of Ningdong mining area, which belong to 15 families and 48 genera. They were concentrated in 4 families, such as Compositae, Leguminosae, Chenopodiaceae and Gramineae. The vegetation coverage and height of shrub layer in the Hedysarum scoparium+ Caragana korshinskii-Artemisia sacrorum community were the highest among the 6 communities, with values of 48% and 202.54 cm, respectively. Caragana korshinskii, a shrub species, was distributed in 5 of 6 communities, with a good growth. Patrick richness index of shrub layer was positively correlated with soil alkali-hydrolyzale nitrogen, gravel content, available potassium and organic matter, and negatively correlated with pH value. Patrick richness index of herbaceous plant species was positively correlated with soil organic matter, field water holding capacity and available phosphorus.[Conclusion] Shrub species such as Caragana korshinskii, Hedysarum scoparium, Artemisia ordosica and Calligonum mongolicum should be preferred in vegetation reconstruction of coal gangue hill in Ningdong mining area when the soil cover is loamy sand or sandy loam; Ammopiptanthus mongolicus and Caragana korshinskii should be preferred when the soil cover is sandy soil with less gravel; shrub species such as Caragana tibetica, Gymnokarpos przewalskii and Lespedeza bicolor can be selected when the soil cover is sandy soil with a large amount of gravel. Soil bulk density had a greater contribution rate to shrub species diversity, and soil field water holding capacity and organic matter had a greater contribution rate to herbaceous plant diversity.