[Objective] The influence of vegetation restoration duration on runoff and sediment yield characteristics on the slopes of waste dumps in alpine mining areas was clarified in order to provide a scientific basis for the subsequent efficient implementation of artificial vegetation restoration and soil and water conservation efforts. [Methods] Taking the slopes of waste dumps at different restoration stages in the Delni copper mine area, Guoluo Xizang Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, as the research subjects, this study analyzed the influence of vegetation restoration duration on runoff and sediment yield characteristics through plant plot surveys and simulated rainfall tests. [Results] ① As the restoration duration increased, vegetation coverage, litter mass, aboveground biomass, and other plant growth characteristic indicators showed significant increases(p<0.05). Species diversity and plant root systems exhibited a stepwise recovery pattern characterized by ‘quantity-qualitystructure'.② Compared with the 1-year restoration plot, the 6-year restoration plot exhibited increases of 23.70%, 80.26%, 152.96%, and 171.17% in soil particle density, moisture content, firmness, and cohesion, respectively. Conversely, soil bulk density and porosity decreased by 36.30% and 74.46%, respectively, compared with the 1-year plot.③ The period of 9—15 minutes after rainfall was the sensitive phase for soil erosion on the slopes of waste dumps. The sediment yield rate showed a trend of initially increasing and then decreasing with rainfall duration, while the runoff yield rate showed a sharp initial increase followed by stable fluctuations. Both rainfall intensity and restoration duration significantly influenced runoff and sediment yield, with restoration duration mitigating the erosive effects of rainfall intensity.④ Redundancy analysis(RDA) indicated that root surface area density(p<0.01), Shannon-Wiener index(p<0.05), and porosity(p<0.05) were key environmental factors influencing soil erosion. Structural equation modeling(SEM) revealed that plant community characteristics(path coefficient=-0.892) and plant root characteristics(path coefficient=-0.733) directly or indirectly influenced soil erosion through soil physical and mechanical properties(path coefficient=-0.839). [Conclusion] Implementing artificial vegetation restoration measures on the slopes of waste dumps in alpine mining areas can significantly enhance soil erosion resistance. As the restoration duration increases, the functional structure of the vegetation community improves soil physical and mechanical properties, thereby effectively reducing the risk of soil erosion.