Rocky desertification is one of the most serious economic and ecological problems encountered in the development of southwestern China. Understanding the characteristics of bryophyte diversity and soil chemical properties in different stages of rocky desertification, together with their response mechanisms to rocky desertification, is of vital importance in limiting further species loss and in the selection of species suitable for restoration and regeneration. Bryophyte species diversity, evenness, species richness, life forms, community characteristics and soil chemical properties were investigated in areas with differing levels of rocky desertification in Karst Park, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China. Eighty-four bryophyte taxa from 29 genera and 14 families, were found in the study area; with the exception of 2 liverwort taxa from 2 genera and 2 families, all were mosses. The degree of rocky desertification in the study area was classified into five levels:nil-slight-moderate-severe -extreme. The order of species diversity of bryophytes in each of these categories was:severe (i.e. most species) > moderate > slight > extreme > nil (i.e. least number of species); the order of evenness index was determined as:moderate > slight > severe > extreme > nil. As the degree of rocky desertification increased, there was a corresponding decrease in the proportion of multi-species bryophyte communities and an increase in the proportion of single species communities. Wefts and turfs were the most commonly occurring life forms; with increasing rocky desertification, there was a corresponding increase in the proportion of turfs. Total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and microbial biomass carbon in the underlying soil, were markedly affected by rocky desertification, and decreased as the degree of rocky desertification increased. Partial redundancy analysis determined that three bryophyte taxa, Brachythecium amnicolum, Palamocladium nilgheriense, and Eurohypnum leptothallum, are suitable species for use in ecological restoration of areas affected by rocky desertification. The degree of rocky desertification did not significantly influence bryophyte diversity, but it did significantly affect community characteristics and life forms. Thus, monitoring changes in rocky desertification is possible by using characteristics of bryophyte communities and life forms. Suitable bryophytes can also be used as pioneer species for the restoration and recovery of areas of rocky desertification.