[Objectives]  To explore the physiological and biochemical responses of rice to the feeding activity of the green rice leafhopper (GRL), Nephotettix cincticeps (Uhler) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). [Methods]  Physiological and biochemical indices of rice plants were measured at three GRL densities (2, 4, and 8 GRLs per plant). Rice Chl and TP content, LOX, T-SOD, POD and PPO activities were measured after GRLs had fed on plants for 6, 24, 48 and 96 h. The control group was comprised of GRL-free plants. [Results]  Chl content of all three density treatments was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.01). TP content increased after 6 hours of feeding, then significantly decreased as the duration of feeding increased (P<0.05). LOX activity in the 2 GRLs per plant treatment group significantly increased after 6 hours of feeding (P<0.05), then significantly decreased as the duration of feeding increased. PPO activity significantly increased after 24 hours of feeding in all three density treatment groups (P<0.05). T-SOD activity changed dynamically with the duration of feeding and GRL density. POD activity increased earlier at higher GRL densities; POD activity of the 2 and 4 GRLs per plant treatment groups was significantly higher than that of the control after 96 hours (P<0.051). [Conclusion]  Significant physiological and biochemical responses, including changes in Chl content, and in LOX, PPO, T-SOD and POD activity, were induced in rice plants by the feeding activity of N. cincticeps. These responses varied with GRL density and the duration of feeding time.