Implementations of the subject matter described herein provide a slowing mechanism for a switching apparatus and a switching apparatus. The slowing mechanism includes: a shaft adapted to be rotatable in response to an operation of an actuator to drive a moving element of the switching apparatus; at least one slowing wheel fixed on the shaft and having a slowing contour; and a movable rocker engaging with the slowing wheel. The slowing wheel is adapted to cause the rocker to move abutting against the slowing contour on the slowing wheel in response to the rotation of the shaft, so as to slow down the rotation of the shaft. The slowing mechanism can slow down the operation of the moving element of a switching apparatus, while not impacting the switching performance and life time of the switching apparatus.