Abstract: Soil moisture is a key factor affecting the growth and development of vegetation on the surface, which also an essential part of the hydrological cycle of lithosphere-hydrosphere-biosphere-atmosphere. Its dynamic change can reflect the comprehensive information of surface hydrologic process. Based on the collected data from real-time monitoring systems of rainfall and soil moisture of upper, middle and lower slope positions in a typical basin of the Three Gorges Mountain area from May 2018 to May 2019 monitored by high-resolution TDR water probes and a small meteorological station, the variation of soil moisture and its response to precipitation were analyzed in different temporal scales. The results showed that: (1)In the monthly scale, the soil moisture content had a great seasonal difference. From May to July, it was the saving period (the average soil moisture content of 0~80 cm is 38.40%), and from August to October was the consumption period (the average soil moisture content is only 35.04%). (2) In the daily and hourly scales, different depths to precipitation were distinct significantly. The response of shallow layer (0~40 cm) to precipitation was faster (lag time <0.5 hours), and the trend of soil moisture change was similar to the process of rainfall; the response of 40~80 cm depth soil to rainfall had obvious hysteresis (lag time >0.5 hours), and in descending order of soil depths, the response luffing showed a decreasing trend and the retardation time was gradually increased. (3) Under different precipitation conditions, the soil moisture content showed markedly different variation. With different levels of rainfall changing from moderate rain to heavy downpour, the higher the rain intensity, the faster the growth rate of soil moisture, and the response time of soil water content increased synchronously. (4)The effect was different of soil moisture at different sites. The response curve of the upper slope site to precipitation was stable, but the middle and lower sites fluctuated greatly. It can be seen that different microtopography of different sites can change the response of soil moisture to precipitation.