Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous lung disease that is persistent, repeatedly deteriorating airway obstruction due to respiratory abnormalities (bubuchitis, bronchiolitis) and/or alveolar abnormalities (emphysema). Salidroside, a widespread natural phenolic secondary metabolite found in Rhododiola, has several pharmacological effects. Relevant studies have shown that salidroside has protective effects in anti-diabetes, anti-cancer, anti-aging, heart and nerve protection, etc. Due to the limitations of clinical drug use in COPD, salidroside has multiple functions and low side effects, and its protective effect and mechanism of action on COPD have attracted increasing attention. By collecting relevant papers published in recent years, reviewed in the literature against oxidative stress, regulation of protease/anti-protease imbalance, anti-inflammatory, anti-bronchiolar and interstitial fibrosis, anti-telomere shortening, expounds the protective effect and mechanism of its effect in COPD, and provide reference for its clinical application. The clinical and experimental data are not sufficient, and the role and mechanism of salidroside need to be further studied.