The alpine tundra ecosystems of Changbai Mountain provide a refuge for many types of plants. However, the area is ecologically fragile because of climate change and artificial disturbance. With the exception of a number of species listed in a provincial Red List, the conservation status of plants in this area is unknown. In the present study, we conducted a quantitative assessment to determine the extinction risk and conservation priorities for plants in the alpine tundra ecosystems of Changbai Mountain. Data regarding the current status of plants in this area were inferred from field surveys,market surveys, published literature studies, and consultations with experts. We established a quantitative evaluation system for addressing the endangered status and conservation urgency of plants in the alpine tundra ecosystems of Changbai Mountain, by modifying existing protocols and consulting with experts. Our assessment protocol included 12 indicators from three subsystems. The weights for each sub-system and each terminal indicator were determined by using the Delphi method and the analytic hierarchy process. We developed an indicator value assignment criterion to quantify differences among species. We based the indicator values for the evaluated species on available data regarding their current status and on published literature surveys. In addition,we developed regional endangered categories and criteria for threatened plants by consulting the IUCN Red List categories and criteria version 3.1 ; we assigned conservation priority criteria after consulting relevant published literature studies. We evaluated 94 species,among which three were classified as critically endangered,six were classified as endangered, 22 were classified as vulnerable, 42 were classified as near threatened, and 21 were classified as of least concern. According to our conservation priority index,five species were classified as special class conservation (including Saxifraga punctata,which was not recorded in any Red List),six species were classified as first class conservation (including Diphasiastrum alpinum, which was not recorded in any Red List),34 species were classified as second class conservation (including 19 species that were not recorded in any Red List),30 species were classified as third-class conservation (including 22 species that were not recorded in any Red List),and 19 species were categorized as delayed conservation (including six species that were listed in the Red Lists). Comparison of our evaluation results with existing official Red Lists revealed that certain species not recorded in the existing official Red Lists were classified in almost all our regional endangered grades ; on the other hand,some red-listed species were classified as of least concern according to our regional endangered grades. We discuss possible reasons for these discrepancies. Our findings provide important new regional information on plants in the alpine tundra ecosystems of Changbai Mountain.