[Objective] The joint distribution of flood peaks in small and medium watersheds in mountainous areas of South China was examined to provide a theoretical reference for flood control in mountainous areas.[Methods] Based on the Archimedean Copula function and the Kendall measure, three kinds of recurrence levels of the combined distribution of flood peaks in selected watersheds of three mountainous areas were analyzed. The "OR", "AND" and Kendall return periods and their design flood quantiles for the joint distribution of flood peaks were calculated based on the Gumbel Copula funtion and Kendall measures.[Results] ① There was a high correlation between flood peak and flood volume (Kendall correlation coefficient >0.76); ② The probability of flood peaks in three basins was very high, all exceeding 81%; ③ In terms of engineering economic security, the comparison of the set-up period showed that the Kendall return period between the "OR" and the "AND" return periods more accurately reflects the risk ratio of the joint distribution of flood peaks; ④ The flood design value calculated by the two-variable "OR" return period and the same frequency were higher.[Conclusion] The design value of peak flood volume calculated from Kendall recurrence period can provide new safety insights for flood control projects in small and medium-sized mountain basins.