The effect of vertical vegetation structure (VVS) on normalized soil restoration index (NSRI) was studied in the eroded red soil areas of southern China, by obtaining the vegetation projected leaf area index (PLAI) and soil properties of 56 samples. The results showed the VVS and soil quality both well restored, the effect of VVS on the physicochemical properties of the eroded soil was remarkable. The restoration of heavy fraction organic carbon, total Nitrogen and clay content rank of different VVS was in order of pure forest < forest and grass < forest, shrub and grass, while the rank of bulk density was opposite. In the situation where PLAI > 0.2, soil properties improved with PLAI increased. The NSRI correlated significantly with PLAI (r = 0.332*, P<0.05). In general, the increase of vegetation layers was conducive to the improvement of soil restoration degrees in southern China, the shrub and grass vegetation was crucial to the restoration of the eroded red soil.