Abstract: Formation of shallow groundwater is an inter-transform process of precipitation, surface water and groundwater. Formation of shallow groundwater in the arid areas in China, where shallow groundwater relies mainly on runoff from the debouchures of rivers, is quite different from that in the humid regions in east China and the high-cold Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The studies reveal that mountainous groundwater is mainly recharged by rainfall (or glacial-snow melt water) permeation in the arid areas in China. Rainfall recharges rivers after it is transformed as surface water, and also plays a certain role in the formation process of shallow groundwater in the plain basins. Shallow groundwater in the plain basins is mainly recharged by surface runoff permeation downstream from the debouchures. Groundwater and surface water is from the mountainous regions. Affected by geologic and geomorphologic conditions, the multiple transform processes of groundwater and surface water in the plain basins provide the advantages for utilizing groundwater and the favorite conditions for improving the local social and economic development and people's life.

Key words: shallow groundwater, surface water, distribution, basin plain, mountainous region, arid area, China