Objective: Determination of α-terthienyl in Radix Echinopsis from different places by using RP-HPLC. Method: The separation was carried out at 25 ℃ on a Hypersil ODS2 C18 column (4.6 mm×250 mm, 5μm) with MeOH 0.1% acetate solution (85 ∶15) as mobile phase. The detective wavelength was at 352 nm with the flow rate of 1.0 mL ·min-1. Result: The α-terthienyl was linear within the concentration range of 0.4916-6.1450 μg (r=0.999 9). The average recovery was 98.83%. Conclusion: This method is simple and practical with strong specificity and good reproducibility.The content of α-terthienyl is up to the regulation of no less than 0.2% in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (Edition 2010) from different places.