In this study, aerobic granular sludge was cultivated in a sequencing batch reactor(SBR)with glucose and sodium acetate as the carbon sources. The shock-loading effects of varying Cu²⁺ concentrations(0, 1, 3, 5 and 10 mg/L)on the physicochemical characteristics of the aerobic granular sludge were studied. The results show that the physicochemical characteristics of the aerobic granular sludge were affected as the concentration of Cu²⁺ increased from 0 to 10 mg/L. Cu²⁺ with concentrations of 1 and 3 mg/L had a slight effect on the removal efficiencies of COD and NH⁺₄-N, while Cu²⁺ with concentrations of 5 and 10 mg/L had a significant effect on the removal efficiencies of COD and NH⁺₄-N. As the concentration of Cu²⁺ increased, filamentous bacteria in the aerobic granular sludge increased gradually, the concentration of sludge decreased continuously, and the settling property deteriorated rapidly. In addition, a decrease in the density degree, a loosening structure, and polarization of particle size of the aerobic granular sludge were found in the SBR, and the granular sludge disintegrated when the Cu²⁺concentration was 10 mg/L.