[Purpose] Field investigations were carried in the three-river-source region, to provide a reference for soil erosion prevention and control in the region. [Methods] The investigation team travelled to Guoluo, Yushu, Hainan, and Huangnan Prefectures in Qinghai Province in three separate groups from July 25 to August 20, 2023. Woodlands, grasslands, farmlands, bare lands, roads, riverbanks, and mountain gullies in these areas were surveyed and analyzed. [Results] Grassland had the most complex type of soil erosion and was subjected to the joint action of multiple camp-force erosions such as wind erosion, water erosion, freezing and thawing erosion, and gravity erosion, resulting in serious soil erosion. In addition, grassland damage by highland rodents may be another important factor in the occurrence of grassland erosion. Forestland had erosion gullies in the standing forest; however, the overall risk of erosion was low due to engineered slope protection. The foot of the slope on which the shrub land is situated was more exposed to hydraulic and gravitational erosion and was at greater risk of erosion. The farmland was spread over a small area, with mild water erosion occurred in the field. For bare ground, fine gully erosion was more intense, and soil erosion was serious. Notably, on both sides of the road, the slopes were more severely eroded, and the excavation of the project has led to the destruction of the turf, sliding under gravity, and the emergence of larger exposed surfaces, which provide conditions for the occurrence of water erosion, leading to a larger network of erosion gullies that have already formed in some areas. [Conclusion] Soil erosion in the three-river-source region of Qinghai Province is complex and varied, with the intensification of human activities and the risk of further exacerbation of soil erosion in localized areas. There is an urgent need to conduct soil and water conservation work in the new era, and there is a need to strengthen basic research on soil erosion in the region, the deployment of the network of soil and water conservation monitoring stations, and intelligent management.