A 16S rDNA clone library was generated to investigate the bacterial diversity in intertidal sediment from the coast of the Yellow Sea, P. R. China. A total of 102 clones were sequenced and grouped into 73 OTUs using a phylogenetic approach. The sequenced clones fell into 11 bacterial lineages: Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Planctomycetes, Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Spirochaetes, and candidate divisions of BRCl, OP3, and OP1l. Based on a phylogenetic analysis of these bacteria, together with the ten most closely related sequences deposited in the GenBank, it was concluded that intertidal bacteria are most likely derived from marine bacteria with a remarkable diversity, and some are particularly abundant in intertidal sediment.