[Objective] Detecting the spatial and temporal variation characteristics of soil erosion in river basins and carry out sustainable river basin management. [Methods] This study quantitatively analyzes the temporal and spatial characteristics of soil erosion in Guishui River Basin by RUSLE model based on the rainfall, soil, digital elevation model (DEM) and land uses datasets of Guishui River Basin from 1995 to 2018, meanwhile, the soil stability in the basin was evaluated. [Results] (1) The areas of forestland and grassland showed a decreasing trend from 1995 to 2018, respectively. In 2018, the areas of forestland and grassland were 4.41×10⁴ and 0.84×10⁴ hm², respectively, which were 13.52% and 10.61% lower than those in 1995. The farmland area increased from 3.53×10⁴ hm² in 1995 to 4.07×10⁴ hm² in 2018. The area of building land has gradually increased, from 0.59×10⁴ hm² in 1995 to 1.90×10⁴ hm² in 2018. (2) The soil erosion modulus in Guishui River Basin fluctuated from 8.71 t/(hm²·a) in 1995 to 4.56 t/(hm²·a), and then increased to 11.07 t/(hm²·a) in 2018. (3) The intensity of soil erosion in Guishui River Basin is mainly in slight erosion. From 1995 to 2015, the intensity of soil erosion gradually decreased and remained stable, and the proportion of moderate and above erosion area decreased from 4.95% to 3.05%, and increase to 7.42% after 2018. (4) In Guishui River Basin, the soil stability decreased and the unstable soil area increased during the study period. [Conclusion] In the urbanization process of Guishui River Basin, the coverage of forest and grass decreased slightly; the intensity of soil erosion decreased totally, but increased slightly in the last stage; unstable soil land takes up a small proportion. The results of this study provide a basis for comprehensive management and land use planning of Guishui River Basin.