Abstract: As sexual reproduction plays an important role in maintaining genetic diversity of plant population, investigation of seedling establishment is critical for effective forest ecosystem conservation. Therefore, the seedling establishment and spatial distribution of seedlings and sprouts of Quercus liaotungensis Koidz. in different vegetation types, in Dongling Mountain, northern China were investigated. The vegetation types studied are including Pinus tabulaeformis forest, broad-leaved forest, Betula platyphylla forest, shrubland, Betula dahurica forest and Larix principis-rupprechtii forest. The spatial distribution and density of seedlings and sprouts varied between vegetation types. Even in the same vegetation type, the density appeared to vary for seedlings and sprouts. Seedling density decreased with seedling age. Growth characteristics measured in 3 grades of micrositegap, under canopy and at the interaction sites between canopy and gap in a broad-leaved forest, suggest that the height of seedlings in gaps is greater than that under canopy, whereas the length of the longest leaf was not different among 3 grades of gap, nor did the percent of germinated seedlings. These results suggest that seedlings prefer sun microsites over shade ones for growth, and that the formation of gaps in the forest is beneficial for natural regeneration of oak population.