This study aimed to investigate the response characteristics of growth，physiology and lead(Pb)content in the seedlings of Atractylodes chinensis under different soil Pb concentrations，providing a theoretical reference for the safe production of Atractylodes chinensis. Seedlings of Atractylodes chinensis were treated with various soil Pb concentrations(0，66.67，133.33，200.00 and 266.67 mg·kg-1)at different time points(0，5，10，15，25 days)were excavated，and their growth，physiological responses and Pb content were analyzed. The results indicated that under different Pb concentrations，the growth-related indices(leaf number，leaf length，leaf width，fibrous root length，fibrous root diameter，fibrous root number，dry weight of above- and below-ground parts)，tolerance coefficients and physiological indices(soluble sugar content，total protein content，chlorophyll content，root activity，peroxidase activity and catalase activity)of Atractylodes chinensis seedlings initially increased and then decreased with the increase in Pb concentration. Meanwhile，proline content，malondialdehyde content and superoxide dismutase activity were gradually increased with the increase in Pb concentration. When treated with 66.67 mg·kg-1 Pb for 5-10 days or 133.33 mg·kg-1 Pb for 5 days，the Pb content in the below-ground parts of Atractylodes chinensis seedlings was less than 5 mg·kg-1，meeting the quality and safety standards of Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China. The bioconcentration factor ranged from 0.04 to 0.66，and the translocation factor ranged from 1.49 to 8.53 in the below-ground parts. Correlation analysis revealed significant or extremely significant positive correlations between growth indices and some physiological indices，while significant or extremely significant negative correlations were observed between growth indices and other physiological indices as well as Pb content. Principal component analysis indicated that peroxidase activity，root activity，fibrous root length，chlorophyll content，malondialdehyde content and Pb content in both above- and below-ground parts could serve as key indicators for the response of Atractylodes chinensis seedlings to Pb stress.