Based on the difference of district physiognomy, the paper introduce the way of point-to-point observation and comprehensive analysis into the water erosion analysis of the three observation stations in Yulin and Yan′an. Each station includes the roads, the open space between houses and the settlement yards. The data of the observations show that the average erosion intensity of rural settlements is 2 722.2 t/km2, and the average erosion intensity of the open space between houses is the strongest which reaches 4 380.9 t/km2. The average erosion intensity of Nianzhuang country, Baota region of Yan′an city is the highest during the three observation stations which is 5 311.9 t/km2. It is concluded that the soil erosion of rural settlements which is closed to human behavior, especially the way of land-using, is quite serious and rainfall is the direct drive. So we should pay more attention to its study and prevention.

water and soil conservation; water soil erosion; Loess Hilly-gully Area; rural settlements