The characteristics of the start-up period of single-step autotrophic nitrogen removal process were investigated. The autotrophic nitrogen removal process used a sequencing batch reactor to treat wastewater of medium to low ammonia-nitrogen concentration, with dissolved oxygen (DO), hydraulic retention time (HRT) and temperature controlled. The experimental conditions were temperature at (30(2) (C, ammonia concentration of (60 to 120) mg/L, DO of (0.8 to 1.0) mg/L, pH from 7.8 to 8.5 and HRT of 24 h. The rates of nitrification and nitrogen removal turn out to be 77% and 40%, respectively, after a start up period going through three stages divided according to nitrite accumulation: sludge domestication, nitrifying bacteria selection and sludge adaptation. It is demonstrated that dissolved oxygen is critical to nitrite accumulation and elastic YJZH soft compound packing is superior to polyhedral hollow balls in helping the bacteria adhere to the membrane.