In order to explore the effects of two types of ecological projects (Sophora moorcroftiana (Benth.) Baker shrub and Populus alba L. plantation) on the water holding capacity of sandy land in the Yarlung Zangbo River Valley terraces, the water holding capacity and soil physicochemical properties of 0—30 cm soil layer in 6, 12 and 30 years ecological projects plots in this area were measured. The soil quality indexes of aeolian sandy lands in different projects areas were calculated by fuzzy mathematics method. The influencing factors of water holding capacity of aeolian sandy lands were analyzed, and the main influencing factors were determined by multiple stepwise regression method. The results showed that: (1) The saturated water holding capacity, capillary water holding capacity and field water holding capacity of 0—10 cm soil layer of S. moorcroftiana (Benth.) Baker shrub and P. alba L. plantation increased by 5.81% to 9.19% and 51.47% to 71.48% from 6 to 30 years, respectively, and each water holding index of P. alba L. plantation was 1.02 to 1.60 times of that of S. moorcroftiana (Benth.) Baker shrub. (2) P. alba L. plantation promoted better structural changes in mechanical particle, bulk density, porosity and had higher nutrient contents such as organic matter and total nitrogen in the 0—10 cm soil layer of aeolian sandy lands than S. moorcroftiana (Benth.) Baker shrub. With the increase of implementation years, the overall change of the above soil indicators in the 0—10 cm soil layer of S. moorcroftiana (Benth.) Baker shrub was best in 12 years, while that of P. alba L. plantation was 30 years>10 years>6 years. (3) The average value of soil quality index of the 0—30 cm soil layer of the two ecological projects showed an increasing trend with the increasing of implementation years. The results of correlation analysis and multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that the water holding capacity of sand lands was significantly correlated with the mechanical particle, bulk density, porosity, organic matter, total nitrogen and total phosphorus, and the main influencing factors were capillary porosity, total nitrogen and very fine sand. In conclusion, P. alba L. plantation, as a local introduced tree species, had better effect on improving water holding capacity and sustainability than native shrub of S. moorcroftiana (Benth.) Baker, which could promote the restoration of aeolian sandy lands. The research results could provide data reference for understanding the change of regional sand ecohydrological function and ecological projects construction.