We investigated the effect of salinity on seedling emergence, seedling growth, ion accumulation and the rate of photosynthetic oxygen evolution of Suaeda physophora Pall. The optimum salt concentration for growth of S. physophora was about 200 mmol/L NaCl. High concentrations of NaCl (400 and 600 mmol/L) did not decrease seedling emergence, while 200 mmol/L NaCl increased it. The rate of leaf photosynthetic oxygen evolution was decreased at 400 and 600 mmol/L NaCl. Maintaining a relatively high K+/Na+ ratio and water content in leaves under high concentrations of NaCl may be an important mechanism for the adaptation of S. physophora to high salinity.