<p>This study was conducted to investigate the effects of understory cultivation of <i>Rubus chingii</i> Hu (<i>R. chingii)</i> on soil chemical properties and bacterial community succession, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the promotion of this cultivation model. Experimental plots were established in a forest in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China. Four treatments were set: pristine forest (CK), and understory planting for one, two, and three years (F1, F2, F3). Soil nutrients and bacterial community composition were analyzed. Compared to CK, understory <i>R. chingii</i> cultivation significantly increased soil pH value and available potassium but decreased organic carbon and available phosphorus. It also altered bacterial community composition. At the phylum level, Pseudomonadota abundance increased significantly, Acidobacteriota decreased with cultivation years, and Actinomycetota peaked in year two then declined. At the genus level, F1 and F2 clustered into a distinct group, with dominant genera including <i>Rhizomicrobium</i> and <i>Acidothermus</i>. Redundancy analysis indicated Pseudomonadota correlated positively with pH value but negatively with organic carbon, Acidobacteriota negatively with pH value, and Actinomycetota negatively with available phosphorus. Network analysis showed F3 had more complex and robust community interactions. Functional prediction suggested F3 enriched nitrogen-cycling and certain photosynthetic bacterial groups. PLS-PM revealed that changes in the composition of dominant bacterial phyla were the primary factor influencing functional gene abundance. Understory cultivation of <i>R. chingii</i> effectively alleviated soil acidification. During this process, changes in the soil chemical environment were accompanied by shifts in bacterial community structure and synchronous reconfiguration of functional networks, progressively establishing a more stable soil micro-ecosystem.</p>