The environmental temperature can affect the physical properties of rubber, thus influence the dynamic response of plate rubber bearings under earthquake. In this paper, the finite element method was used to analyze the frictional sliding characteristics of plate rubber bearings. The hysteretic curve and equivalent viscous damping ratio of the bearing were compared with those obtained from normal temperature experiment. Based on a reliable model, the influence of environmental temperature on the friction sliding characteristics of plate rubber bearing was analyzed. Relationship between the temperature and the energy consumption, the equivalent viscous damping ratio, and the starting distance of sliding were also studied. The results showed that: (1) The finite element model can well show the frictional sliding characteristics of plate rubber bearing under horizontal load; (2) Within the temperature range studied in this paper, the lower the temperature, the more energy consumption of plate rubber bearing in the friction sliding process, and the bearing will earlier enter the sliding state. So it is important to control the supporting length of upper structure of the bridge in cold area. (3) With the decrease of shape coefficient, the viscous damping ratio of plate rubber bearing is increased, and the initial sliding distance of the bearing was decreased.