Abstract: Based on the rainfall data and MODIS/cloud water path product of Danjiangkou Basin from 2001 to 2021, statistical methods are used to analyze the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics and correlation between cloud water and area rainfall. The results show that: (1) In the past 21 years, the area rainfall of Danjiangkou Basin has increased slightly, the spatial distribution is more in the southwest and less in the northeast, and the seasonal characteristics are significant. (2) The average annual liquid water path of Danjiangkou Basin is less than 300 g/m², the seasonal variation is not obvious, and the spatial difference is not significant, which is related to the limitation of MODIS retrieving algorithm; while the ice water path and the cloud water path are 150~500 g/m² and 250~750 g/m², respectively, all peaked in summer. The seasonal characteristics are consistent with area rainfall, due to the influence of topography, the geographical distribution characteristics are obvious. Quantitative analysis shows that there is a good correlation between cloud water path and areal rainfall (the correlation coefficient is 0.73). (3) The “cloud water renewal period” of Danjiangkou Basin is longer in winter, up to 34.5 hours in December, while the cloud water circulation is faster in summer, the renewal period in July is only 2.7 hours.