Objective: To discuss the impacts of geniposide on proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagy of lung cancer cells by regulating adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/unc-51 like kinase 1 (ULK1) pathway. Methods: A549 cells were divided into lung cancer group, low-dose geniposide group, medium-dose geniposide group, high-dose geniposide group, AMPK activator (MK8722) group, and high-dose geniposide+AMPK inhibitor (Compound C) group. 5-ethynyl-2"deoxyuridine (EdU) staining and CCK-8 method were used to detect cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the number of autophagosomes in A549 cells. QRT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), p53, p62, and Bcl-2 homologous domain protein (Beclin1) in A549 cells. Western blot was used to detect microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), p-AMPK, p-mTOR, and p-ULK1 proteins in A549 cells. Results: For the lung cancer group, the low, medium, and high dose geniposide groups showed a decrease in EdU positive rate, OD450 value, PCNA and p62 mRNAs, and p-mTOR protein in A549 cells, and an increase in apoptosis rate, autophagosome number, p53 and Beclin1 mRNAs, and LC3-II/LC3-I, p-AMPK, and p-ULK1 proteins, the high-dose geniposide group showed the most prominent trend (P<0.05). For the lung cancer group, the MK8722 group showed a decrease in EdU positive rate, OD450 value, PCNA and p62 mRNAs, and p-mTOR protein in A549 cells, and an increase in apoptosis rate, autophagosome number, p53 and Beclin1 mRNAs, and LC3-II/LC3-I, p-AMPK, and p-ULK1 proteins (P<0.05). For the high-dose geniposide group, the high-dose geniposide+Compound C group showed an increase in EdU positive rate, OD450 value, PCNA and p62 mRNAs, and p-mTOR protein in A549 cells, and a decrease in apoptosis rate, autophagosome number, p53 and Beclin1 mRNAs, and LC3-II/LC3-I, p-AMPK, and p-ULK1 proteins (P<0.05). Conclusion: Geniposide may inhibit A549 cell proliferation, promote autophagy and apoptosis by activating AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 pathway.