Au nanoparticles dispersed NiO composite films were prepared by a chemical solution method. The phase structure, microstructure, surface chemical state, and optical absorption properties of the films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Uv-vis spectrometer. The results indicate that Au particles with the average diameters of 35–42 nm are approximately spherical and disperse in the NiO matrix. The optical absorption peaks due to the surface plasmon resonance of Au particles shift to the shorter wavelength and intensify with the increase of Au content. The bandwidth narrows when the Au content increases from 8.4wt% to 45.2wt%, but widens by further increasing the Au content from 45.2wt% to 60.5wt%. The band gap E_g increases with the increase of Au contents from 8.4wt% to 45.2wt%, but decreases by further increasing the Au content.