This paper was oriented to explore soil formation characteristics and classification by soil taxonomy of the soils at the south piedmont of the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang.A total of 8 typical soil profiles were prepared in the study area. Through profile observation and stratified sampling analysis, it was found that soil formation of the soils in the area changed in process with elevation, exhibiting a sequence of original soil forming process, organic matter accumulating process, latentizating process, maturing process and salt accumulating process.According to the "Chinese Soil Taxonomy (Third Edition)", the soils of the eight typical profiles changed with elevation from Cambosols to Gleyosols, Anthrosols, Cambosols and Aridosols from the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains to the edge of the Tarim Basin. In line with the Taxonomy, the soils could be sorted into 4 order, 6 suborder, 7 group, 7 subgroup, 8 soil family and 8 soil series.By reference to the "Chinese Soil Taxonomy", "Chinese Soil Genetic Classification", "USA Soil Taxonomy", and "World Soil Resources Reference Base", ascription of the 8 typical soil profiles shows that the "Chinese Soil Taxonomy" puts more emphasis on characteristics of the soils in China, and hence brings forward some China-specific soil types.