[Objective] The causes of soil erosion in various regions in China were discussed in order to provide theoretical basis for researches on soil and water conservation, and to enlighten young researchers in the academic research.[Methods] According to a large number of field investigations and academic exchanges, using information from various sources, the issues in soil and water conservation were analyzed mainly from the view of geology.[Results] Brief description of new opinions on five soil erosion issues:the relationship between the feldspathic sandstone in the contiguous area of Shanxi Province-Shaanxi Province-Inner Mongolia and the oil and gas fields and the uranium deposits in the Ordos Platform; preferential flow and its effects on the gully formation and groundwater recharge in the tableland of Loess Plateau; collapsed gully erosion and its control in South China; influences of the underlying mild clay on erosion of the black soil in Northeast China; and soil leaking on karst slops in Southwest China.[Conclusion] The science of soil and water conservation is an applied subject closely combined with practices, and should firstly serve for the needs of national ecological civilization construction. Researchers should be good at discovering problems, dare to doubt authorities, and solve the problems with comprehensive and multidisciplinary knowledge. Only in this way can we ensure that our scientific researches continues to progress in the right direction.