In　the　post-Fukushima　accident　era,　the　participation　of　local　residents　and　their　acceptance　of　nuclear　power　plants　(NPPs)　have　become　significant　issues.　Using　the　case　of　Qinshan　NPP　in　China,　this　study　examined　the　factors　affecting　public　acceptance　of　NPPs　and　explored　the　ways　in　which　public　participation　affects　the　public　acceptance　of　NPPs　through　structural　equation　modeling.　We　found　that　public　participation　promotes　public　acceptance　of　NPPs　through　various　paths,　and　there　exist　intermediary　factors,　namely　trust　and　risk　perception.　Public　participation　improves　the　public　acceptance　of　NPPs　indirectly　by　increasing　trust　and　decreasing　risk　perception.　Trust　can　directly　improve　the　public　acceptance　of　NPPs　and　indirectly　influence　it　through　benefit　perception　and　risk　perception.　In　this　study,　we　also　proposed　recommendations　for　policy　and　practice　to　enhance　the　level　of　public　acceptance　of　NPPs.　©　2020　Atomic　Energy　Society　of　Japan.　All　rights　reserved.