Land cover and rainfall patterns affect soil erosion in the red soil region of Southern China. Different types of land cover (grass, litter, bare land) were studied with various rainfall regimes. Bare land had the highest surface runoff and erosion, while grass cover had the lowest. Litter cover produced the most subsurface flow. Longer, heavier rainfall events led to more erosion on grass and litter cover, while intense, short storms caused more erosion on bare land. Dense surface cover helps reduce erosion, especially during long, heavy rainfall events. Understanding how surface and subsurface flow interact is crucial for managing soil erosion in this region.