Vitextrifoliavar. simplicifolia grown on the coast of Yantai was examined to understand the compensatory mechanisms associated with changes in photosynthetic characteristics and rapid plant growth. Specifically, the water content and temperature at different soil depths, as well as the fresh weight(FW), dry weight (DW), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), and stomatal conductance (Gs) in above-sand leaves of V.trifolia under sand burial were measured. Under sand burial, the surface soil had a higher temperature (40℃) and lower soil water content. However,as the soil depth increased, the water content of the soil increased and temperature decreased (28℃). After 5 and 10days of light and moderate sand burial, the leaves above the sand on large plants and young plants had higher FW and DW than those of control plants. For instance, the FW values of the top leaves of large plants were significantly higher (by 27% and 29%) and the DW values (23% and 27%) were also significantly higher than those of control plants. The diurnal course of Pn, Gs, and Tr presented a bimodal pattern in the leaves of V.trifolia with light and moderate sand burial and without sand burial, and were higher in the upper leaves than in the lower leaves of the plant. Under light and moderate sand burial, the Pn, Tr, and Gs of the leaves of young and large plants of V.trifolia increased and were higher than those of control plants. For instance, the leaves of larger plants under light and moderate sand burial at the first peak of photosynthesis had higher Pn(by 13% and 24%),Tr(by 33% and 72%), and Gs(by 55% and 27%) than those of control plants. This indicated that rapid plant growth and increased material accumulation in the top leaves under sand burial were positively correlated with increased Pn and plant compensatory growth. The plant compensatory growth activated by sand burial stress resulted in increased Pn and dry matter accumulation. The imbalance in energy and material metabolism through lost leaves caused by sand burial acted as an internal cue that activated plant compensatory growth. The lower parts of plants were exposed to lower temperatures and moister conditions, which were external causes of plant compensatory growth. This suggested that compensatory growth in V.trifolia plays an important role in maintaining the balance between energy and material metabolism and adaptation to sand burial.