In order to explore the effects of different configuration patterns of shrub and grass on soil erosion from cinnamon soil, a simulation rainfall experiments was conducted on cinnamon soil slopes planted with shrub (Lespedeza bicolor Turcz.) and the herbs (Medicago sativa L.). Three kinds of rainfall intensity (30, 60, 90 mm/h), three kinds of vegetation coverage (ratio of shrubs and herbs coverage was 1∶2 (Ⅰ), 2∶1 (Ⅱ), 1∶1 (Ⅲ)) and three kinds of vegetation patterns (shrubs were located on up-slope (US), middle-slope (MS), low-slope (LS)) were designed to analysis the characters of runoff generation and sediment yield and the benefit of runoff and sediment reduction with the interaction between the vegetation coverage and vegetation patterns under rainfall conditions. The results showed that: (1) Runoff generation and sediment yield on slope increased greatly at the beginning of rainfall, and then the trend of increase gradually slowed down, and finally stabilized. When the shrubs were located at the low slope (LS) and the vegetation coverage was Ⅱ, the runoff generation and sediment yield were the least. (2) The relationship of the effect of runoff reduction and sediment reduction between different vegetation coverage was Ⅱ＞Ⅰ＞Ⅲ. The relationship of the effect of runoff reduction and sediment reduction between different vegetation patterns was LS＞MS＞US. (3) A double factor variance analysis showed that vegetation coverage and vegetation patterns exhibited a significant effect on runoff generation and sediment yield (p＜0.05), but the interaction between the vegetation coverage and vegetation patterns became insignificant on runoff generation and sediment yield. (4) When the shrubs at the low slope with 50% shrub cover and 25% herbs cover, this configuration pattern had the best runoff and sediment reduction efficiency. The results of the study could provide support for the deployment of soil and water conservation measures in cinnamon soil area of Beijing.