Abstract: Li Diaoyuan, a scholar and poet of the Qing Dynasty, was regarded as a spiritual poet in the poetry circle when he was alive. Although Li Diaoyuan loved Yuan Mei’s poems of spiritualism, the two poets had only a short friendship in their later years. Li is a scholar, and his poems have the tendency of academy and characteristics of poetry. They stand on their own independently and outstanding in the Qianlong period, and have a certain influence on the history of Qing poetry. Making comparison between Li and Yuan Mei in the aspects of poetics, poetics origin and poetry creation, it can be confirmed that Li Diaoyuan does not belong to the school of spirituality poetry, but shows opposition to it. So it is necessary to make an in-depth study of his poetics and creation.