In this study two copper-resistant bacterial strains, HQN2 and JYC17, were isolated from rhizospheric soils of heavy metal-tolerant dominant plants growing in copper mining wasteland. Copper solubilization of strains HQN2 and JYC17 were investigated in solution culture and copper-contaminated soil. Compared to the control treatment (CK), water-soluble Cu concentrations released from Cu2(OH)2CO3 by strains HQN2 and JYC17 increased by 306% and 136%, respectively. pH values in the bacterial inoculation treatments decreased from 7.00 to 4.08 (strain HQN2) and 4.46 (strain JYC17) respectively. Copper could promote the production of organic acids (such as gluconic, malic and acetic acids) by the tested strains. The two strains could significantly increase the exchangeable Cu compared to CK. The exchangeable Cu concentrations increased by 110% and 270% respectively compared to CK. Based on the physiological and biochemical tests as well as 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis, the bacterial strains HQN2 and JYC17 were identified as Arthrobacter sp. and Microbacterium sp. respectively.