We studied soil profile characteristics, physico-chemical properties and nutrient distribution in wetland at different submerging depths in water of East Dongting Lake, central China. Results showed:1) The thickness of subsurface horizon and the depth of gley horizon increased as the wetland elevation increased,with soil types distributed as meadow soil and tidal soil. 2) The average soil particle density was 2.78 g/ cm³ and the soil bulk density varied between 0.71 1.41 g/ cm³. 3) The content of organic matters ranged from 1.78% to 5.07%. It decreased with the increase of soil depth. No change of organic matter content was found in subsurface horizon. 4) With the increase of wetland elevation, soil total P increased, but total K decreased. Total P in surface horizon were higher than that in subsurface horizon, but there were no significaut differences of total K between surface horizon and subsurface horizon. 5) The contents of Ca and Mg in gleyed meadow soil were higher than that in the other soil types, but there were no relationships between the depth of ground water and the conteuts of Ca and Mg.