Abstract: In order to improve the stability and bioavailability of Zn²⁺, the Chinese quince seed peptide(CQSP) was prepared by enzymatic hydrolysis using Chinese quince seed as raw material. Five peptide fractions with different molecular weight ranges were obtained by ultrafiltration, and they were applied for preparation of CQSP-Zn chelate. The effects of protease types and peptide molecular weight on the chelation rate of Zn²⁺ were investigated. The amino acids composition analysis, Fourier transform infrared(FT-IR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible(UV-Vis) spectroscopy and fluorescent spectroscopy were used to identify the structural characteristics of the chelate, and the solubility of CQSP-Zn at different pH values as well as digestion stages were also studied. The results indicated that the CQSP with the molecular weight less than 1 000 u hydrolyzed by alkaline protease presented the highest Zn²⁺ chelating rate(83.26%). The analysis of FT-IR spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy and fluorescent spectroscopy revealed the interaction between CQSP and Zn²⁺, and the -NH, CH₂, C=O, C-N, -COOH in CQSP might participate in the chelating of Zn²⁺. Compared with the inorganic ZnSO₄, CQSP-Zn showed higher solubility at pH 2.0-8.0 and simulated gastrointestinal digestion procedure. When the pH value was 8.0, the Zn²⁺ solubility of CQSP-Zn was 73.85%, which was 11.19 times higher than that of ZnSO₄. In the simulated intestinal fluid with a pH value of 7.5, the Zn²⁺ solubility of CQSP-Zn was 65.86% at 0 minute of digestion, significantly higher than ZnSO₄(16.24%), demonstrating potential application of CQSP-Zn as Zn²⁺ supplement.