Lignin was extracted from bamboo (Dendrocalamus latiforus) shoot shell by acetosolv process. The surface microscopic characteristic, crystalline characteristic, thermostability, moisture-absorbing characteristics and antioxidant activities of acetic acid lignin (AL) were investigated and compared with the same source of cellulose residues and coarse dietary fiber. The results showed that the AL was spherical and coarse surface with many pits, with amorphous structure，good thermal stability and low moisture absorption. In terms of the DPPH radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), AL showed stronger antioxidant activity than the commercial synthetic antioxidant BHT. But there was no significant difference in the ABTS free radical scavenging ability of AL and BHT. The antioxidant capacity of AL were significantly higher than that of the same source the cellulose residue coarse dietary fiber. Therefore, AL has the potential to be applied to antioxidants.