There are enormous differences in natural geographical environment and soil physciochemical properties in different regions of the water erosion zone in China, which may cause differences in soil detachment capacity (D_c). However,little research has paid attention to the spatial distribution of D_c and its influencing factors at large scale (such as the water erosion region). In this study, 36 sampling sites were selected in the water erosion zone according to the soil types and soil texture. D_c was measured by disturbing soils (representing freshly tilled sloping farmland) and the influencing factors were analyzed. The results showed that D_c of Aqui-Sandic Primosols was the largest, while that of Argi-Udic Ferrosols was the smallest, and D_c exhibited a strong spatial variation in the water erosion zone. The northwest Loess Plateau and the South Hilly Area had the largest D_c. The soil texture with moderate content of clay and sand had the largest D_c. There was no significant difference between shear stress and stream power in simulating D_c. D_c had a significant negative correlation with silt content, particle size parameter, cation exchange capacity and soil organic matter, and a significant positive correlation with sand content, median soil grain size, geometric mean particle diameter, and exchangeable sodium percentage. D_c in water erosion area could be well simulated by shear stress, silt content, cation exchange capacity and soil organic matter (R²=0.71, NSE=0.71).