[Objective] The soil quality changes caused by land from hill citting in Beishan Mountain in Lanzhou City were assessed in order to provide a scientific basis and suggestions for land-cutting and land-reclamation projects and ecological benefit evaluation in this area. [Methods] We selected four land use types for evaluation: original cultivated land, forest land, grassland, and newly reclaimed land created by mountain cutting in Beishan Mountain of Chengguan District, Lanzhou City. We collected soil physical properties, chemical properties, and root biomass samples. We screened the minimum data set based on principal component analysis (PCA), and evaluated the soil quality of Beishan Mountain through the soil quality index. [Results] ① Based on the principal component analysis of the full data set of soil quality (including 12 physical and chemical indicators), a minimum data set consisting of bulk density, available phosphorus, available potassium, total nitrogen, and pH value was constructed. ② Soil quality index for the four land use types followed the order of cultivated land＞forest land＞newly reclaimed land＞grassland. Hill cutting significantly affected soil water conservation, organic matter accumulation, total nitrogen, available potassium, etc. ③ The correlation coefficient between the minimum data set and the full data set was 0.66, and the minimum data set better evaluated soil quality (p＜0.01). [Conclusion] Cultivated land and forest land in Beishan Mountain had better soil quality than grassland and newly reclaimed land. Water holding capacity and nutrient accumulation capacity of newly reclaimed land was lower than that of cultivated land and forest land, which is a key area for future vegetation restoration and reconstruction. Land cutting on mountains should take place on grasslands as far as possible, and attentions should be given to the protection of original cultivated land and forest land.