[Objective] The characteristics and driving factors of runoff-sediment variations in the Shule River basin were analyzed in order to provide a theoretical basis for the efficient utilization of water resources and ecological conservation in the basin. [Methods] Measured runoff， sediment transport， and precipitation data spanning from the time of built station to nearly 70 years by 2023 were collected from three representative hydrological stations-Changmabao and Panjiazhuang on the Shule River main stream， and Dangchengwan on the Dang River-together with meteorological data from three nearby meteorological stations （Jiuquan， Yumen， and Subei）. Methods such as mathematical statistics， the Mann-Kendall non-parametric test， and Bayesian analysis were applied to analyze the variation characteristics of the runoff-sediment relationship in the Shule River basin. In addition， regression analysis and the cumulative slope change rate method were used to quantify the impacts of climate change and human activities on variations in runoff and sediment transport. [Results] Runoff and sediment transport in the Shule River basin were unevenly distributed at both intra-annual and interannual scales， exhibiting pronounced spatiotemporal variability. Runoff at all three hydrological stations showed a significant increasing trend. Sediment transport at Changmabao station increased significantly， while no significant trends were observed at Panjiazhuang and Dangchengwan stations. [Conclusion] Climate change is the primary factor influencing the variations in runoff and sediment transport in the upper reaches of the Shule River main stream and the upper reaches of its tributary， the Dang River. Specifically， the runoff and sediment transport processes at the Changmabao station in the upper reaches of the Shule River main stream are driven by the combined effects of precipitation， temperature， and human activities. Precipitation variation is the dominant factor affecting the variations in runoff and sediment transport at the Dangchengwan station in the upper reaches of the Dang River. Human activities are the main driving force influencing runoff and sediment transport at the Panjiazhuang station in the middle reaches of the Shule River main stream， and their influence continues to increase with the intensification of human activities.