Abstract: Zoysia matrella possesses the characteristics of developed aboveground stolon and underground rhizomes, long and thin leaves, long green periods, intensive grass sward, strong reproduction and resistance, and low maintenance costs so it is the most important warm season turfgrass in the south of China and the first option for planting sports and urban open turf. From previous literature, the research on Z. matrella was more focused on the morphological and anatomical structures, drought, cold, saline and alkaline resistances, but there were few studies on trampling tolerance and natural recovery after trampling was seriously neglected. To provide some theoretical basis and practical references for the planting, management and maintenance of Z. metrella turf, the effects of various trampling stresses,including none (control), light, moderate and heavy trampling on the characteristics of Z. metrella turf established for 4 years and their natural recovery were studied using artificial trampling. All trampling stresses significantly reduced turf characteristics in the order of turf height>turf coverage>turf density>aboveground biomass>length of the top third leaf. The effects of various trampling stresses on the turf characteristics were obviously different and moderate trampling could control turf height, decrease turf biomass and increase turf density. After 53 days of natural recovery, the trampled turfs gained some recovery, but the consequence of recovery was related to the turf characteristics and trampling intensity. Turf height after recovery was higher than that before trampling in the order of moderate trampling>light trampling>heavy trampling and was extremely significantly lower than that of the control. Turf height and coverage could recover to the original level before trampling and was best with moderate trampling. The length of the top third leaf could recover to 86.8%-93.5% of the original level and was extremely significantly higher than that of the control. The aboveground biomass under moderate trampling recovered to 90.2% of the original level, while the aboveground biomass under moderate and heavy trampling recovered to above 115.0% of the original levels, but they were extremely significantly lower than that of the control. Therefore, the damage of turf under light trampling was small and recovery to the original level was rapid. The short-time damage of turf under moderate trampling was serious and recovery to the original level was slow. Under heavy trampling, the long-time damage to turf was very serious and recovery to the original level was difficult.