Anping harbour mangrove rehabilitative project involved direct sowing of Rhizophora stylosa viviparous seedlings in 1996 and 1998. The aims of this study were to examine branch, prop root, canopy, leaf characters and nutrient concentrations of rehabilitated R. stylosa saplings under different light environments. Results indicated that branch length, leaf numbers, and leaf area of the first to fourth branches of saplings produced from propagules sown in 1998 grown in a fully lit environment (relative light intensity was 100%) were significantly higher than those grown under a Avicennia marina canopy shade environment (relative light intensity was 7%). However, the above-mentioned parameters of saplings grown from propagules sown in 1996 were significantly higher for those saplings grown in a shaded environment. The branching angles of saplings showed no significant difference between propagules sown in a shaded and fully lit environment. However, prop root length and the angles of saplings were higher when grown in a fully lit environment. Canopy spreads and canopy areas of saplings produced from propagules sown in 1998 grown in different light environments showed no significant difference. However, the canopy parameters of saplings grown in a fully lit environment were higher than those in the shaded environment for the saplings sown in 1996. Leaf characters, water content and chlorophyll concentration of saplings produced from propagules sown in 1998 showed no significant difference in the fully lit environment, but saplings grown under a sheltered canopy had higher leaf traits for those sown in 1996. Approximate N, P, K, Na, Ca and Mg concentrations in the leaf, stem and prop root of saplings grown in a full lit or sheltered environment showed no significant difference for the two sowing time. In summary, the variation in the branch, prop root, canopy and leaf characters of Anping harbour rehabilitative R. stylosa saplings grown in differently lit environments may change with tree ages.