Objective: To study the effects of peer attachment and loneliness on self-esteem and to provide suggestions for the development of self-esteem among children in rural area. Methods: A total of 1 009 fourth to sixth graders from ten primary schools in rural area of Sichuan and Henan Provinces participated in this longitudinal study. The self-esteem, peer attachment and loneliness were assessed at baseline, and the selfesteem was assessed after 9-month follow up. Results: After controlling for age, gender, whether parents migrate to work in urban area and self-esteem, peer attachment( β =0.14)and loneliness at Time 1 ( β = -0.13 ) were found to significantly predict self-esteem at Time 2. In addition, the interaction between loneliness at Time 1 and peer attachment at Time 1 on self-esteem at Time 2 was significant( β =-0.08)( P <0.01). Specifically, the relation between peer attachment at Time 1 and selfesteem at Time 2 was greater when children had low level of loneliness at Time 1. Conclusion The findings indicated that initial low level of loneliness facilitates the protective effect of initial peer attachment on later self-esteem. It reminds parents and educators that both promoting children’s secure attachment towards peers and reducing children’s sense of loneliness are needed in order to develop children’s self-esteem in rural area.