Abstract: In order to understand the salt tolerance of typical tree species in the coastal areas of Jiangsu Province, the coastal area of Dafeng District, Yancheng City was chosen as the research area, and eight afforestation tree species such as Taxodium 'Zhongshanshan', Ulmus pumila, Taxodium distichum, Ulmus parvifolia, Triadica sebifera, Salix ohsidare, Broussonetia papyrifera and Melia azedarach were chosen as the study objects. The soil salt content and its relationship with the survival rate, and the annual growth of diameter at breast height (DBH) and height of trees in different afforestation sites were studied. The comprehensive evaluation of the salt tolerance of each tree species was carried out by using the membership function analysis method. The results showed that the soil salt content of forty-eight sample plots ranged from 0.4 to 11.9 mg/g, and there were significant differences among different plots. At the sample plots with high soil salt content, the salt content of the upper soil was generally higher than that of the subsoil, which showed a typical salt accumulation in the topsoil. The survival rate, DBH and height of the eight tree species were negatively correlated with the soil salt content. According to the evaluation results of salt tolerance of eight tree species, the salt tolerance of eight tree species was as follows: Ulmus pumila > Melia azedarach > Taxodium distichum > Triadica sebifera > Ulmus parvifolia > Taxodium 'Zhongshanshan' > Salix ohsidare > Broussonetia papyrifera. Ulmus pumila and Melia azedarach could tolerate about 6 mg/g of the soil salt content; Taxodium distichum, Triadica sebifera, Ulmus parvifolia and Taxodium 'Zhongshanshan' could tolerate about 4 mg/g of the soil salt content; and Salix ohsidare and Broussonetia papyrifera could only tolerate about 3 mg/g of the soil salt content. Therefore, Ulmus pumila and Melia azedarach could be planted in coastal areas with high salt content, while Taxodium distichum, Triadica sebifera, Ulmus parvifolia and Taxodium 'Zhongshanshan' could be planted in coastal areas with medium salt content, and Salix ohsidare and Broussonetia papyrifera could only be planted in coastal areas with low salt content.