The volatile oil from fresh shell of Alpinia katsumadai Hayata was obtained by steam distillation method, and its chemical constituents were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Fifty-two compounds accounting for 99. 26% of total content of the volatile oil are identified. The main chemical constituents are terpenoids, including twenty-two monoterpenoids and twenty sesquiterpenoids, which are accounting for 84. 07% and 8. 63% of total content of the volatile oil, respectively. The relative contents of 1,8-cineole (19. 18% ), β-pinene (11. 76% ), terpinene-4-ol (10. 42% ), α-thujone (10. 01% ), p-cymene (9. 28% ) and α-pinene (6. 22% ) are higher in the volatile oil. It is concluded that there are various bioactive constituents in the volatile oil from fresh shell of A. katsumadai, and the value of exploitation and utilization of A. katsumadai shell is very high.