By using the combined grid and line method in vegetation investigation,vegetation succession in the hill and gully area of western Shanxi Province was studied by a case study of Tuqiaogou small watershed in Fangshan County of Shanxi Province.Results showed that Chinese pine and silver chain(importance value:117.34 and 69.96,respectively)are predominant species of the tree layer in the area.Lespedeza,C.microphylla,and seabuckthorn(importance value:169.45,74.05,and 36.92,respectively)are predominant species of the shrub layer.The herblayer is made of composite and gramineous plants(importance value:126.18and 82.63,respectively).Analysis of comparison and clustering showed that community types are pine cluster and lespedeza cluster in Tuqiaogou small watershed.Vegetation succession list is from bare groud,grassplot,shrub,pioneer trees to co nifer.Succession direction of the whole watershed is toward the silver chain community,Chinese pine community,elmcommunity,arborvitae community,and elmsilver chain mixed community.