Abstract: The spatial distrubution patterns of soil large- and mesofauna along typical vegation second succession sequences of inland marsh were examined in a field experiment. Within the study plots,at 1500 m distance there was an obvious response to the soil sequence by the soil fauna. In reed marsh the highest individual density was 728 individuals/m² whereas it was a mere 8 individuals/m² in bareland. Nevertheless, the largest species density value and Shannon-Wiener index were in the surface horizon of chinese grassland, with 10 species/m² and 1.75 respectively, versus 4 species/m² and 0.91 in bareland. Dominant species in bareland and grassland were Coleoptera, Diptera and Collembola, but were Hymenoptera and Diptera larvae in grassland. and meadow, but Cyclphoridae and Diptera larvae in reed marsh. A canonical correspondence analysis was applied to examine the response of soil fauna to soil properties of typical vegetation second succession sequences. Two types of environmental factors affecting soil fauna species living patterns were found: high moisture and humus content resulted in a richness of individual density and diversity of soil microfauna. The other factor is salinity, and exchangeable sodium percentage in particular, which restrain the activity of soil microfauna. Protection and restoration vegetation in inland saline marsh regions would help wetland conservation and soil fauna biodiversity.