Shrubs are important components of the forest in the upper reaches of Bailongjiang River. Previous studies on water holding characteristics in this region were focused more on the arbor forest, but less on shrubberies. By means of field survey and soaking extraction, five typical shrubberies (Viburnum dilatatum Thunb., Salix fargesii Burk., Salix cathayana Diels., Fargesia spathacea Franch., Spiraea schneideriana Rehd.) were selected for the present study. The results showed that litter storage in the five typical shrubberies followed the order of F. spathacea＞S. fargesii＞V. dilatatum＞S. cathayana＞S. schneideriana. The half-decomposed litters had a larger water holding capacity than un-decomposed litters in the five typical shrubberies. The water holding capacity of S. cathayana un-decomposed litters was the highest among different shrubberies, the half-decomposed litters of F. spathacea was the highest among different shrubberies, the un-decomposed and half-decomposed litter layers of S. schneideriana were both the lowest among different shrubberies. The maximum water holding capacity of the whole litter layer was in the order of S. cathayana＞F. spathacea＞V. dilatatum＞S. fargesii＞S. schneideriana. Water holding capacity of the litters of different decomposition degree changed logarithmically with soaking time, and the water absorption rate followed a power function.