Contents of soil organic carbon (SOC),total nitrogen (TN) and labile carbon (LC) along natural and artificial water table gradient were measured in two types of alpine wetlands of Ruoergai plateau,China, in 2004.Results showed that the distribution characteristics of SOC,TN and LC were very similar in swamp soils,increasing along natural water table gradient at surface 0-10 cm and decreasing gradually with soil depth.The distribution characteristics of SOC,TN and LC were very similar in peat soils,increasing greatly along artificial water table gradient at 0-30 cm,which indicated that a great deal of carbon was emitted to atmosphere or run off due to artificial drainage at that time.Contents of LC decreased in swamp soils and in- creased in peat soils with soil depth,which indicated that the different process of forming swamp soils and peat soils,and the effect of natural and artificial water table.The C/N ratios decreased in swamp soils and increased in peat soils along water table gradient.In addition,soil C/N ratios,pH values and soil particle- size contents were important factors affecting SOC,TN and LC in alpine wetlands.