Abstract: Background The objective of this study is to grasp the spatial differences of vegetation characteristics on 5 kinds of micro-topographies including gully, collapse, platform, shallow gully, and scarp in loess area of north Shaanxi Province. Methods Based on the investigation of undisturbed slope and the 5 different micro-topographies in semi-sunny and semi-shady slope of Hegou valley in Wuqi County of Shaanxi Province, the correlations between micro-topographies and vegetation characteristics of species composition, herbaceous biomass, vegetation coverage, and vegetation diversity were analyzed. The data processing methods of this paper were bivariate analysis and descriptive statistical analysis. Results The results revealed that: 1) The species composition, herbaceous biomass, vegetation coverage and vegetation diversity of plant communities on all kinds of micro-topographies were better than those on the undisturbed slope. At the same time, the vegetation condition on gully and collapse were thebest, followed by shallow gully and platform, and the worst on the scarp. 2) The Simpson index and Shannon-Wiener index on different micro-topographies and undisturbed slope were in the order of gully >collapse > platform > shallow gully > scarp > undisturbed slope, and the stages of natural succession of the plant communities on gully and collapse were higher than other micro-topographies. 3) After 15 years of enclosure recovery, the plant community with Potentilla acaulis and Aneurolepidium dasystachys as the dominant species was formed on the semi-sunny slope, meanwhile, the plant community with Artemisia sacrorum and Artemisia giraldii as the dominant species was formed on semi-shady slope, and there was also a small amount of shrub and arbor in some areas. At the same time, the speciescomposition, herbaceous biomass, coverage and vegetation diversity of plant communities on different micro-topographies of the semi-shady slope were all better than those in the sem-sunny slope. The spatial differences of physical and chemical properties in all kinds of micro-topographies resulted in vegetation characteristics different on the slope land in loess area of north Shaanxi Province. Conclusions In addition to follow the principle of the vegetation restoration units divided by site condition, the vegetation characteristics on different micro-topographies should be taken into consideration in the construction of artificial vegetation restoration in loess area of north Shaanxi Province. On the semi-shady slope land, the composite configuration of arbor, shrub and herb should be adopted, and the density of plant species may be increased on gully and collapse due to their favorable ecological condition. While on the semi-sunny slope land, the main content of the artificial vegetation restoration is to restore and protect the herbaceous community, moreover, the composite configuration of shrub and herb can be adopted on gully andcollapse where ecological environment are better than other micro-topographies.