The output properties of fundamental and second harmonic waves and the thermal properties of a Nd: YVO4 microchip laser pumped by a laser diode were studied. The output power of 278mW at 1.064 μm was obtained with a pumping power of 730 mW at 808 nm, and the slope efficiencywas found to be 47.8%, The stable 0.53 μm light with an output power of 12.8 mW in asingle transverse and nearly single longitudinal mode was obtained by intra-cavity second harmonicgeneration using a KTP crystal of 7 mm in thickness. The temperature of the chip inoscillation was observed to be lower than that in the non-oscillating state.