Pine (Pinus densiflora) bark activated with zinc chloride was prepared and characterized by the nitrogen adsorption method. The impregnated amount of zinc chloride on the pine bark and the activation temperature of the composite were important for the preparation of activated carbon having a high surface area. Large particles of bark led to a slight reduction in surface area of the prepared activated carbon. The impregnation of zinc chloride on the bark was effective in enhancing the BET surface area. The largest surface area (2280 m²/g) of an activated carbon was obtained through the activation of the bark with 200% zinc chloride impregnation at 450 ℃ for 2 h, but further increases in the impregnated amount, temperature, and time did not have any positive effects on increasing the surface area. The average radii of the activated carbons were mostly less than 20 Å.