[Objective] The characteristics of soil erosion and nutrient loss in a small watershed on the upper reaches of the Kulü River were quantitatively analyzed to provide a scientific basis for soil and water conservation in small watersheds on the upper reaches of Chaohu Lake.[Methods] A remote sensing system (RS) and geographic information system (GIS) were used to assess quantitatively the soil erosion and nutrient loss in the research area using the revised universal soil equation (RUSLE). The relationships between soil erosion intensity and factors such as slope, elevation, and land use types were also analyzed.[Results] ① The average soil erosion modulus in the research area in 2018 was 394.45 t/(km²·a), the intensity of soil erosion was mainly at micro or mild level. ② The intensity of soil erosion was positively correlated with the slope gradient, and with increase of the slope gradient, the proportion of erosion area that was intensely eroded increased gradually. Within the same range of elevation, different land use types had different impacts on soil erosion. The average soil erosion modulus of each land use type was unused land[1 022.55 t/(km²·a)] > forest land[655.04 t/(km²·a)] > dry land[285.78 t/(km²·a)] > paddy field[139.80 t/(km²·a)]. ③ The trend of the spatial distribution of soil nutrient loss was consistent with that of soil erosion. The average losses of soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) were 3.66, 0.27, and 0.07 t/(km²·a), respectively.[Conclusion] The distribution characteristics (high to the south and low to the north) of soil erosion and nutrient loss at the small watershed on the upper reaches of Kulü River are significantly affected by topography and geomorphology. Soil and water loss are the most serious in hilly areas. In the research area, mountain forest land and sloped farmland are the key areas for soil and water conservation.