The drying technology including hot air drying, vacuum freeze drying and spray drying were used to prepare Rosa xanthina Lindl powder. The effects of different drying methods on the physicochemical properties and effective components of the powder were investigated. The results showed that the powder obtained from three kinds of drying methods were better in water solubility and low in moisture content. The flowability, moisture absorption and CRH of the powder prepared by hot air drying were better than others drying methods, but the color of this powder was brown and the active ingredient of anthocyanin was undectable. The powder prepared by spray drying had the lowest yield of 77.51%; meanwhile, the powder had bright purple color, the best water solubility, the smallest particle size of 7.71 μm, and the content of anthocyanins, and the highest polyphenols and flavonoids. Based on the results of comprehensive scoring, the quality of Rosa xanthina Lindl powder by spray drying was the best. Considering the quality of the powder and the efficiency and cost of drying methods, spray drying method was selected as the most suitable method, which have a potential application in Rosa xanthina Lindl powder processing industry.