The N and P contents of plants and soils of five typical shrub communities (Caragana jubata, Salix gilashanica, Potentilla fruticosa, Berberis diaphana and Caragana tangutica)in the Xishui forest zone of the Qilian Mountains were measured and analyzed by field investigation and laboratory analysis, and the stoichiometry of N and P in the plants and soils of five shrubs were also clarified. The results showed that: 1) N and P contents in the leaves were significantly higher than those in the other organs of five shrubs, N and P contents of the leaves ranged from 15.72 to 29.08 g/kg and 1.58g/kg to 3.47 g/kg, respectively. N contents in fine roots and thick roots ranged from 5.11 to 12.20 g/kg and 4.46 to 11.84 g/kg, respectively, P contents in fine roots and thick roots ranged from 0.87 to 1.58 g/kg and 0.63 to 2.02 g/kg, respectively. N:P ratio of leaves ranged from 7.00 to 9.95, N:P ratios of fine roots and thick roots ranged from 5.60 to 8.97 and 5.09 to 8.84, respectively, N and P in leaves and roots had similar use pattern. 2) N content in soil increased with the decrease of soil depth in five shrubs, N and P contents in soils at different layers ranged from 1.40 to 6.80 g/kg and 0.45 to 0.96g/kg, respectively. N∶P ratio, mainly dependent on N content, decreased with the increase of soil depth. N:P ratios of Salix gilashanica, Caragana jubata, Potentilla fruticosa, Berberis diaphana and Caragana tangutica were 11.02, 7.30, 7.41, 7.40 and 2.69, respectively at 0-10 cm soil layers. 3) Significant or extremely significant positive correlations appeared between N contents in the leaves and in the soils, while no significant correlation occurred between P contents in the leaves and in the soils (except Caragana tangutica). N:P ratio of the leaves was significantly negatively correlated with soil N content while was significantly positively correlated with soil P content. N and P contents and stoichiometric ratios had no significant correlations with other variables of leaves and soils. Furthermore, the study also found that nitrogen may be a limiting factor for the growth and development of five shrubs in the Qilian Mountains.