Abstract: The seedling stage represents a critical component of forest biodiversity and plays a fundamental role in forest regeneration and community dynamics. Using census data from a 20 hm² dynamic monitoring plot in a subtropical semi-humid evergreen broad-leaved forest on Jizu Mountain in Yunnan, China, patterns of seedling composition and habitat associations were examined. Results showed that a total of 6 528 woody plant seedlings were recorded within the plot, representing 54 species distributed among 41 genera and 26 families. The assemblage included 38 tree species, 12 shrub species, and four liana species, comprising 37 evergreen and 17 deciduous species. Tree seedling communities were dominated by Schima argentea E. Pritz. and Populus adenopoda Maxim., while Sarcococca ruscifolia Stapf and Ligustrum delavayanum Hariot represented the most abundant shrub seedlings. Seedling species richness was significantly higher in valley habitats than in slope and ridge environments, and significant variation in α diversity of shrub seedlings occurred among the three habitat types. Among 25 species represented by at least 20 individuals, seven exhibited significant associations with specific topographic habitats, including valley, slope, or ridge environments. These findings demonstrate that topographic heterogeneity exerts a strong influence on seedling distribution and diversity in subtropical semi-humid evergreen broad-leaved forests and provide insights into regeneration dynamics and biodiversity maintenance in this distinctive and ecologically fragile forest ecosystem.