Litter and soil layers in forest ecosystems play a vital role in rain interception and water storage. In the context of climate change, extreme rainfall, and drought events directly impact the water retention performance of litter and soil layers, posing threats to the sustainable management of artificial forests. This study investigated three major artificial forest types in subtropical regions (Eucalyptus, Pinus massoniana, and Chinese fir), employing both traditional soaking methods and simulated rainfall methods to determine litter water-holding performance, and using the ring knife method to evaluate soil water-holding properties. A comprehensive analysis of the water retention performance of litter and soil layers was conducted. The results indicated: (1) Within the same time frame (1 h), the water-holding capacity of Eucalyptus, Pinus massoniana, and Chinese fir litter measured by simulated rainfall methods was 136.00%, 129.51%, and 109.41% higher, respectively, than that measured by traditional soaking methods. The traditional soaking method fails to fully account for surface water drainage effects and the “retention effect” caused by litter accumulation, leading to underestimation of litter water-holding capacity. (2) Water-holding capacity of different litter types increased with rainfall intensity and exhibited significant differences (P<0.05). The maximum water-holding capacity per unit mass of litter was ranked as follows: Eucalyptus forest (2.82 g/g), Pinus massoniana forest (2.11 g/g), and Chinese fir forest (1.80 g/g). The range of unit area maximum water retention was from 3.92 t/hm2 to 23.38 t/hm2, and the effective interception amount ranged from 1.85 t/hm2 to 14.91 t/hm2, with the ranking as follows: Pinus massoniana forest>Chinese fir forest>Eucalyptus forest. Water-holding capacity of different litter types increased with increasing rainfall intensity, showing significant differences (P<0.05). (3) In terms of soil water-holding performance, Pinus massoniana soil demonstrated the best maximum water storage capacity (322.46 mm), while Chinese fir soil exhibited the highest capillary water storage capacity (263.44 mm). Overall, the total maximum water-holding capacity per unit area was ranked as Pinus massoniana (324.49 mm)>Chinese fir (298.45 mm)>Eucalyptus (253.42 mm). Pinus massoniana forests exhibit strong water conservation capabilities due to their greater litter accumulation and higher soil porosity. Eucalyptus forests, on the other hand, possess superior litter water absorption rates owing to their larger leaf area compared to other forest types. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the contributions of litter and soil layers to water-holding capacity in three major subtropical artificial forests, offering scientific evidence for optimizing forest stand structures, enhancing regional water retention capacities, and achieving sustainable management of artificial forests under climate change conditions.