Based on the conventional anatomical analysis, the pore structures of poplar tension wood, such as specific surface area, pore volume and pore size distributions were characterized by nitrogen adsorption-desorption method. The shapes of the pores were estimated by nitrogen adsorption isotherms. The results show that poplar tension wood with BET specific surface area of 21.9 m2·g-1, which is 13 times higher than that in opposite wood. Poplar tension wood has intact mesoporosity (pore size between 2-50 nm) with inkbottle and slit shape pore, as well as a certain amount of micropores and macropores. The maximum value of pore size distribution appears at 5 nm. The pore volume with diameter ranging from 4-7 nm makes up 74.4% of the total, and larger than 15 nm, 10.8%. The high amount of mesopores can be attributed to the thick gelatinous layer in poplar tension wood.