The study investigated systematically the main plant community types and characteristics in the eastern desert steppe of China （for example of Sonid Left Banner， Sonid Right Banner， and Erenhot region）. And supplemented the plant formations unrecorded in “Vegetation of China”. 60 plots were investigated by using remote sensing technology， 1∶10⁶ scale vegetation distribution map， and local document records. Plant associations and formations were named based on the sorting of species important values in each plot. Micro-subshrub desert steppe formation groups included Form. Kalidium foliatum， Form. Salsola passerina， Form. Reaumuria songarica， Form. Caragana microphylla， Form. Caragana stenophylla， Form. Ceratoides latens， Form. Caryopteris mongholica， Form. Salsola laricifolia， Form. Amygdalus pedunculata， Form. Sarcozygium xanthoxylon and Form. Atraphaxis bracteata. Bunchgrass desert steppe formation groups included Form. Stipa tianschanica var. gobica. Forb desert steppe formation groups included Form. Convolvulus ammannii， Form. Allium polyrhizum， Form. Allium mongolicum， Form. Carex etc. Plant formations unrecorded in “Vegetation of China” included Form. Atraphaxis bracteata， Form. Caryopteris mongholica， Form. Caragana microphylla， Form. Caragana stenophylla， Form. Salsola laricifolia， Form. Prunus pedunculata， Form. Convolvulus ammannii， Form. Allium mongolicum，Form. Carex etc. The study also showed shrub community height， coverage and dry biomass were significantly higher than that for grass communities in the region. Shrub density and biomass had negative effect on grass species abundance， coverage and height in the shrub communities， and had non-significant effect on grass outside the communities.