Objective To explore the correlation between humanistic care ability of nursing students and their family environmental factors. Methods A sample of 198 nursing students was recruited with cluster sampling method. Demographic data, humanistic caring capacity, and family environmental factors were collected using a self-designed questionnaire, Caring Ability- Inventory (CAI) and Family Environment Scale (FES- CV) and then an analysis was conducted. Results Han nationality students accounted for 32.83%(65/198), minority students accounted for 67.17%(133/198) . The total average score of humanistic care ability was 190.79±18.84, the average score of items was 5.16±0.99. There were significant differences between our participants and those regarded as international norms on the three dimensions of humanistic care ability (t=-16.27--8.12, P < 0.01). The total average score of family environment was 42.57±8.88. Significant differences were also presented between our participants and those of domestic norms on the ten factors of the family environment (t=-10.94-30.04, P < 0.01). The significant correlation was not documented between the total scores of humanistic care ability and family environment. However, the correlations were documented between the six domains of family environment (intimacy, emotional expression, knowledge, entertainment, contradiction, sense of organization) and the total score and each dimension of humanistic caring capacity (P < 0.05 or 0.01). Conclusions The humanistic care ability of nursing students in minority area is relatively low. The humanistic care ability and family environment are correlated on the multi- dimen-sional facets. School educational strategies should be combined with family environment factors of nursing students to jointly promote the humanistic care ability of nursing students.