This study analyzed the response process of the river runoff and sediment to climate change in the source region of Zuli River, a first level tributary of the upper reaches of the Yellow River, using the hydrological and statistical methods based on the actual observational data for more than 30 years. The results showed that the runoff and sediment of this area were sensitive to the changes of the climate. Since the 1980s, the temperature and evaporation increased significantly by the rates of 0.75℃/10a and 34.8 mm/10a, respectively, and the change rates were higher than those of the upper reaches of the Yellow River and the global rivers. In addition, the precipitation showed a decreasing trend, and accordingly the runoff and sediment decreased significantly. Since 2000, the upper reaches of the Zuli River had completely dried up, Moreover, an abrupt change of runoff occurred and the relationship between precipitation and runoff, runoff and sediment changed in 1977. It indicates that the engineering measures for the protection of environment and ecology have effectively alleviated the soil erosion and delayed the occurrence of sediment abrupt changes.