[Objective] The approaches to improve the ecological service of soil and water conservation in the red soil hilly region of the South China were reviewed and discussed in order to provide scientific reference for the ecological construction of soil and water conservation, poverty alleviation, and sustainable development of social economy in this area.[Methods] Taking Tangbei River watershed in Xingguo County of Jiangxi Province as a case study, based on the relevant scientific research literatures, and considering the relationship between different ecological service functions, the key technology research focusing on the improvement of soil and water conservation service function was carried out.[Results]Although remarkable achievements has been made in the comprehensive control of soil erosion, Tangbei River watershed is still faced with serious soil erosion problems, such as collapse erosion, serious soil erosion under forest, soil erosion caused by large-scale economic fruit forest development, and fragile ecosystems. It was urgent to shift the focus from the prevention of soil erosion to the improvement of ecosystem services.[Conclusion] The key technologies for the promotion of soil and water conservation ecological services (such as the relationship between the balance and coordination of soil and water conservation and biological diversity, water conservation and carbon sequestration) should be developed based on the basic scientific issue such as the trade-offs and synergies among different ecosystem services and spatial mobility of soil and water conservation services. The comprehensive model for harmonious development of ecology and social economy should be constructed, and a "upgraded version" and "expanded version" of Tangbei River watershed should be built, in order to promote the transformation and application of research results, and serve the protection and construction of local ecological environment, as well as sustainable and high quality development of the red soil hilly region in the South China.