Bryophytes (mosses) are sensitive to air pollution because of their unique morphological and physiological characteristics. They are widely used to monitor environmental quality and changes in suburbs and urban areas. We evaluated the capacity of bryophytes to absorb and accumulate heavy metals by analysis of heavy-metal content in mosses and soil at Mt. Lao, Qingdao. Grimmia pilifera is a good biomonitor because of its wide distribution and good capacity to absorb and retain heavy metals such as Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd. Taxiphyllum taxirameum, Hypnum plumaeforme and Entodon luridus, widely distributed in Qingdao, also have high capacity to absorb and accumulate heavy metals. We established a valuable method to monitor atmospheric deposition of heavy metals in Qingdao using the moss biomonitor technique.