The invention provides a Lactobacillus plantarum (L.plantarum) CZ401 strain producing exopolysaccharides and β-galactosidase, which was preserved in the China Type Culture Collection Center on March 7, 2016, and the address is: Wuhan University, Wuchang District, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, the preservation number is CCTCC NO: M2016092, and the 16S rDNA sequence of the strain is shown in SEQ ID NO.1. The bacterial colonies observed on MRS solid medium were light yellow, smooth, round, and raised in the center; microscopic observation showed that the strains were Gram-positive, rod-shaped, without flagella, and without spores. The above-mentioned CZ401 strain provided by the present invention not only has higher exopolysaccharide-producing ability and β-galactosidase activity, but also can ferment milk to produce lactic acid drinks, and has wide application value.