Abstract: Studying methods for monitoring the aboveground biomass and species richness is critical to understand the response of the structure and function of alpine shrub ecosystems to climate change and human activities. Four monitoring methods, i.e. standard tree, quadrat, line transect and nested quadrat methods, were chosen to compare the changes of aboveground biomass and species richness of the Potentilla fruticosa shrub meadow. Our results showed that the minimum sampling area of P. fruticosa shrub meadow was 1 m², and the least number of quadrats should be 10. Generally, 12 quadrats of 1 m² were needed when both of species richness and aboveground biomass of the shrub meadow were monitored simultaneously. In order to improve work efficiency and reduce the destruction of vegetation, we measured the canopy and height of 17 plants randomly and established a predictive regression model (y=740.46x_1.08, R²=0.89, P<0.001, y indicates aboveground biomass, x indicates product of canopy diameter and height) based on biomass and the product of its canopy diameter and height as independent variables. The model could predict the shrub aboveground biomass precisely and improve the efficiency of field investigations.