In order to explore the spatial distribution pattern of vegetation, which is composed of different life-history plants, along the river in the mainstream and bank elevation gradient at the water-level-fluctuating-zone of Three Gorges Reservoir, we investigated the vegetation in water-level-fluctuating-zone of the mainstream of Three Gorges Reservoir from August to September 2017. We found that (1) the plant species richness of vegetation in the Three Gorges Reservoir area decreased with the decrease of the distance from the dam. (2) The response of vegetation coverage of different life history species to water flooding gradient stress at water-level-fluctuating-zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir showed the opposite change rule: with the elevation increasing, the contribution of annual plants to the vegetation coverage gradually increased, while the contribution of perennial plants to the vegetation coverage gradually decreased. However, the species coverage of perennial plants was higher than that of annual plants in any elevation in water-level-fluctuating-zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir. (3) Using TWINSPAN vegetation classification method, the vegetation in water-level-fluctuating-zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir can be divided into 25 groups, in which the dominant plant communities are Ass. Xanthiumsibiricum+Cynodon dactylon (including 213 samples), Ass. Cynodon dactylon (including 213 samples), Ass. Cynodon dactylon+Cyperus rotundus (including 55 samples), Ass.Cynodon dactylon+ Polygonum lapathifolium (including 40 samples), Ass. Xanthiumsibiricum +Ageratum conyzoides (including 38 samples). The community characteristics showed obvious adaptation to the fluctuation of water level of the Three Gorges Reservoir and ecological niche differences.