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Abstract: Sediments and surface water were sampled in a tide flat in the Huiquan Bay, Qingdao, China in January 2004 to simulate the exchange of NH4-N/NO3-N/PO43− between sediments and surface water. A working system was designed with which samples were shaken at 60, 120 and 150 revolutions per minute (r/min). Experiment results show that NH4-N concentration in water at shaking rate of 60 r/min decreased gradually, while at 120 r/min increased gradually. In resuspension, fine-grained sediments contributed most NH4-N to the seawater, followed by medium-grained and coarse-grained sediments. The NO3-N concentration in water had a negative relation with the shaking rate; the medium-grained sediments contributed more NO3-N to seawater than the coarse-and fine-grained sediments. The PO43− concentration is positively related with the shaking rate, the fine-grained sediments were the main N and P contributor to the seawater, followed by medium-and coarse-grained sediments.