The structural characteristics and chemical properties of biochars generated from various materials were the basis for the rational utilization of the biochars in agriculture and environment. In this paper, maize straw biochar and Artemisia ordosica biochar were prepared through anaerobic carbonization method at different carbonization temperatures, and their chemical properties were measured. Results showed that the pore structure of the biochars from the two materials was intact below 400℃, while the honeycomb structures of the biochars were destroyed above 600℃. The honeycomb structures of maize straw biochar was destroyed more seriously compared with Artemisia ordosica biochar. The specific surface area, total pore volume and average pore diameter of maize straw biochar were greater than Artemisia ordosica biochar at the same carbonization temperature. The specific surface areas of the two kinds of biochars were increased with the increasing carbonization temperature. The total pore volume of the biochars changed with carbonization temperature as “V” type. The biochars are alkaline, and the higher carbonization temperature led to greater biochar pH. The pH of the biochars was increased by 0.02 units/10℃ in the range from 400℃ ? 800℃. The pH of maize straw biochar was higher than the Artemisia ordosica biochar at the same temperature, and at 400℃, 600℃ and 800℃ , the pH of maize straw biochar higher than the Artemisia ordosica biochar by 0.31,0.35 and 0.29, respectively. C, P, K and ash contents of the biochars increased with the increasing carbonization temperature. The rise of each 10℃ led to the increase in the contents of C, P, and K of maize straw biochar by 2.94 g/kg, 0.11 g/kg, 0.20 g/kg, respectively, and the corresponding data were 4.35 g/kg, 0.07 g/kg, and 0.24 g/kg for Artemisia ordosica biochar. However, the rise of each 10℃ led to the decrease in contents of N and H by 0.13 g/kg and 0.86 g/kg for maize straw biochar, and 0.04 g/kg and 0.82 g/kg for Artemisia ordosica biochar. Therefore, C/N and C/H ratios of the biochars increased with rising temperature. S contents of the biochars did not change with temperature obviously. The difference of element contents between maize straw biochar and Artemisia ordosica biochar was significant. Available contents of N, P, and K in the biochars decreased with the increasing carbonization temperature. When temperature was increased from 400℃ to 600℃, the available N contents of maize straw biochar and Artemisia ordosica biochar were decreased by 57.89% and19.05%, respectively. When temperature was increased to 800℃, the available N contents in both maize straw biochar and Artemisia ordosica biochar decreased to 0 mg/kg. When temperature was increased from 400℃ to 800℃, available P contents of maize straw biochar and Artemisia ordosica biochar were reduced by 67.41% and 52.36%, respectively, and available K contents decreased by 45.62% and 90.16%, respectively. Therefore, different materials and carbonization temperature affected physicochemical characteristics and chemical properties of biochars.