Objective To study the correlation between vascular calcification and serum bone metabolism markers in rats with chronic kidney disease. Methods Thirty six male SD rats were randomly divided into a control group ( 18 rats) and CKD vascular calcification group (18 rats). The calcification group was administered adenine combined with high phosphorus feed and the control group was administered normal saline and common feed. The rats were sacrificed after 2, 4, and 6 weeks and the aorta was collected for Von Kossa staining and calcium content analysis to detect the degree of calcification. Blood and urine were collected to detect urea nitrogen (BUN), blood creatinine (Scr), and bone metabolism markers calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D₃ [1,25 (OH)₂D₃ ], parathyroid hormone (PTH), bone alkaline phosphatase ( BALP), osteocalcin ( OC), total type I procollagen amino terminal peptide ( tPINP), β- carboxy-terminal peptide of type I collagen (β-CTX), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b (TRACP-5b), and 24-hour urinary protein (24 h-Upro). Results Aortic Von Kossa staining showed no black matter deposition at each time point in the control group, whereas black matter deposition in the CKD vascular calcification group was increased gradually over time. Compared with the control group, the contents of BUN, Scr, 24 h-upro, and aortic calcium were increased in the CKD vascular calcification group (P<0. 05). Ca, 1,25(OH)₂D₃ , PTH, tPINP, β-CTX, and TRACP-5b were decreased (P<0. 05), P and Ca?P were increased (P<0. 05), and BALP and OC were also increased (P>0. 05). Binary logistic regression showed that increased serum Ca ? P and decreased PTH and TRACP-5b were independent risk factors for vascular calcification. In accordance with the degree of aortic calcification, the CKD vascular calcification group was further divided into two subgroups: mild-moderate calcification (2 and 4 weeks) and severe calcification (6 weeks). Compared with the mild- moderate calcification group, the contents of BUN, Scr and, aorta calcium were increased in the severe calcification group, (P<0. 05), while 24 h-upro was increased (P>0. 05). Ca, P, 1,25(OH)₂D₃ , tPINP, and TRACP- 5b were also increased (P>0. 05), while Ca?P, PTH, BALP, and β-CTX were increased (P< 0. 05), and OC was decreased (P<0. 05). Analysis of risk factors for the severity of vascular calcification revealed that increased serum Ca?P and decreased OC were independent risk factors for the severity of vascular calcification. Correlation analysis showed that serum Ca ? P, PTH, BALP, and β-CTX levels were positively correlated with vascular calcification, and OC was negatively correlated with vascular calcification. Conclusions Vascular calcification in CKD rats is closely related to bone metabolism. Detection of serum markers of bone metabolism is helpful to assess the occurrence of vascular calcification and judge the severity and progression of vascular calcification.