Ultrastructures of wing scales of 20 species in 15 genera of Nymphalidae, typically common in northeast China, were observed by scanning electron microscopy. The wing scales of Nymphalid butterflies were in three shapes, namely angustifoliate shape, latifoliate shape and round-leaved shape. Scale length is 65-135 μm, width 35-85 μm, and distance 48-112 μm. The wing scale ultrastructures of Nymphalid butterflies observed can be divided into three types, namely arch bridge shape, chessboard shape and sieve pore shape. Arch bridge shape and chessboard shape are quite similar, but they are very different from sieve pore shape. Of the species observed, the size of the vertical gibbosities on the scale was smallest in Limenitis populi（200 nm×300 nm） and largest in Apatura ilia (590 nm×560 nm). The scales are similar in shape, structure and arrangement, and especially the differences in shape and size of the scale ultrastructure between the congeneric species are relatively less, suggesting their closer relationship.