Abstract: The effects of the visual characteristics of landscape elements on perceptual priority were studied by the method of photographic testing.The results showed that:1) Perceptual priority scores of different landscape elements varied significantly.2) Perceptual priority scores of different landscape elements were influenced by relative areas,shapes,and the relative positions in the landscape.Generally,landscape elements with large areas,regular shapes and borders in the middle and lower part of the visual area were easily detected.3) The effects of visual properties on perceptual priority changed with types of landscape elements.