Based on a soil warming experiment, this study aimed to study the effects of global warming on nutrient acquisition capabilities of subtropical Chinese fir ( Cunninghamia lanceolata) seedlings and the associated plants, such as Helicteres angustifolia and Mallotus lianus. Three soil warming (WNW) and three non-warming ( NW) 2mx2m Chinese fir seedling plots, both with no weeding, were established in Chenda State-Own Forest Farm, Sanming, Fujian. Soil warming was accomplished by buried heating cable technology, with soil temperature elevated to above ambient. Fine root biomass was measured by soil coring,and ingrowth cores were used to extract root samples to measure root respiration, morphology and N concentration. Specific root respiration rates were measured by the Clark-type Oxygen Electrode and root tissue N concentration were determined by the vario EL Ⅲ Element analyzer. Root samples were scanned by the Epson scanner at 300dpi, and root architecture and morphology were analyzed by WinRHIZO Pro 2009b software. The results showed that: ( 1) Soil warming significantly decreased root (