[Objective] The characteristics of rainfall were analyzed and the simple algorithm of rainfall erosi-vity of West Guizhou plateau area were studied to provide theoretical basis for the building of the soil erosion prediction model. [Methods] 53 rainfall events of Bijie area from 2012 to 2014 were obtained by means of runoff plots observation. [Results] The results showed that: (1) rainfall amount(P) and rainfall energy of 60 minutes(E60) were two important affecting factors on the processes of slope runoff and sediment. Slope runoff and sediment yield were found significantly correlated with rainfall intensity of 60 minutes(I60). (2) The correlation coefficients between runoff/sediment and the mixed factors of rainfall indicated that EI60

PI60 and I30 I60 were three kinds of the most important impacting factors on soil erosion process. What is more

the correlation coefficient between runoff/sediment and EI60 was slightly different with the one between runoff/sediment and EI30. (3) Parameters of simple algorithm of rainfall erosivity were determined based on the above analyses. [Conclusion] Through the comparison of determination coefficients and the average error rates obtained from three algorithms

the simple algorithm of rainfall erosivity of the study area was expressed as R=0.344(PI60) with reference to R=EI30 for its comparability.