[Objective] To analyze the development characteristics and formation mechanism of geological disasters in order to improve the prevention and control of geological disasters in Jian'ou City, Fujian Province. [Methods] Based on the detailed investigation on geological disasters, through the analysis of the geological disaster development type, scale, distribution and damage features of Jian'ou City, the development rule of geological disasters was summarized in the area. According to the formation conditions and inducing factors of geological hazards, with the analysis of typical disaster, the formation mechanism and different shear strength characteristics were identified. [Results] (1) The characteristics of the disaster which developed in a large numbers of small scale landslide were summarized, and general performance of the soil collapsed along the bedrock surface; (2) The causes of geological disaster include the following points: firstly, the frequent tectonic movements resulted in a broken rock mass in the area which contained unstable structural plane combinations. Secondly, due to the low shear strength of soil on the surface of the slope, slope destruction would be easily induced under artificial cut slope and rainfall conditions. [Conclusion] The condition of geological environment in Jianou City is poor, and unreasonable cutting slope is easy to induce landslide.