Estimation of algal primary production is important for understanding the energy flow in aquatic ecosystems. Periphytic algae are believed to be the major primary producers in lakes, especially in macrophyte-dominated lakes. However, there have been relatively few studies on periphyton primary production than those on phytoplankton in lakes. We studied periphyton in eight different disturbed sites in Baiyangdian Lake during four seasons. Biomass was measured in the laboratory using sampled periphyton, and the metabolism of shallow epiphytic and epipelic algal communities in Baiyangdian Lake was measured using changes in dissolved oxygen in chambers in situ. The relationship between the metabolism of periphyton (epiphyton and epipelon) and water physicochemical parameters was analyzed. The results showed that chlorophyll a (chla) concentrations of epiphyton and epipelon varied from 34.83 to 245.22 μg/cm² and from 26.08 to 297.40 μg/cm², and the ash-free dry weights (AFDW) varied from 0.46 to 5.21 g/m² and 0.61 to 5.81 g/m², respectively, at different sampling times. The biomass of periphyton was the highest in August, and were the lowest in April and November. In April and November, the chla of epiphyton was significantly higher than that of epipelon, and significantly lower than that of epipelon in June and August. Biomass varied significantly among sites. Both chla and AFDW of two periphytons were significantly higher in polluted areas (inlet and Nanliuzhuang) than in clear water areas (Shaochedian and Caiputai). Annual gross primary productivity (GPP) of epiphyton and epipelon in Baiyangdian Lake was 494.20 and 474.45 mgC m^-2d^-1, respiratory rate(R) was 522.63 and 508.98 mgC m^-2d^-1, and net primary productivity (NPP) was -28.44 and -34.52 mgC m^-2d^-1 in 2014 and 2015, respectively. The distribution of periphyton metabolism in Baiyangdian Lake exhibited significant temporal and spatial variation. GPP of periphyton was the highest in August, and the lowest in April and November, similar to biomass. The spatial distribution of periphyton GPP exhibited a decreasing trend from west to east. The NPP values were positive in clear water areas, indicating that the periphyton in these areas were autotrophic communities, whereas the NPP values were negative and the periphyton communities were heterotrophic in polluted areas. Multivariate ordination techniques were used to analyze the effects of water quality on the periphyton biomass and primary production using CANOCO version 4.5. The results of redundancy analysis (RDA) with forward selection indicated that total phosphorus, chlorophyll a, permanganate index, ammonia nitrogen, water temperature, Secchi Disc depth, dissolved oxygen, and N/P ratio were the most important environmental factors affecting periphyton primary productivity during the study period. Significantly positive correlations occurred between GPP and water trophic status.