[Objective] The experiences of soil and water conservation on Loess Plateau during the past 70 years (1949-2019) after the founding of the People's Republic of China were summarized in order to provide reference for the ecological environment protection and high-quality development in this region.[Methods] Based on long-term field investigation experiences and scientific research achievements, a large number of documents and literature related to soil and water conservation work on the Loess Plateau were analyzed.[Results] In term of the main objectives and measures of soil and water conservation, the history of soil and water conservation on the Loess Plateau in the past 70 was divided into three stages:disaster prevention (1949-1980), comprehensive control (1980-2000), and ecological restoration (after 2000). Soil and water conservation in the new period should pay attention to the following aspects. ① To understand the overall reality of soil and water loss, and conservation status scientifically and rationally in the Loess Plateau; ② To raise the socio-economic and production level of the areas and improve people's living conditions. ③ To pay more attention to the environmental impacts of large-scale projects for soil and water conservation. ④ To have more scientific research projects focused on the new problems and challenges under higher-level control conditions.[Conclusion] After 70 years of soil and water conservation, remarkable achievements on the loess plateau has been achieved, including vegetation restoration and reconstruction, soil and water conservation infrastructure construction, slope soil erosion control, and sediment reduction of Yellow River. But it is very important to realize clearly that Loess Plateau still faces many severe challenges caused by many natural and human activities. Therefore, the task of soil erosion prevention and control is still arduous. It is necessary to improve the speed and quality of soil erosion control and social and economic development on Loess Plateau for making great contribution to the national strategic goals of Yellow River basin ecological protection and high-quality development.