【Objective】 Soil erosion resistance reflects the vulnerability or sensitivity of soil to erosion, which is a critical parameter utilized for soil erosion prediction and is of significant importance for predicting regional soil erosion and adjusting land use patterns. Nevertheless, the potential effect as well as their driving mechanism of vegetation types on soil erosion resistance is still scarce in the purple soil of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the potential effect of vegetation types on soil erosion resistance and decipher the influencing mechanisms of purple soil in the Three Gorges Reservoir area. 【Method】 Based on a full field investigation in the Qinling watershed of Zhongxian Country in the Three Gorges Reservoir area, seven typical vegetation types of the coniferous forest of Cupressus funebris Endl. (CF) and Pinus massoniana Lamb. (PM), broadleaf forest of Eucalyptus spp. (E), Citrus reticulata Blanco. (CR), shrub(S), grassland(G) and maize(M) were selected. Combined with the field sampling and indoor analysis, difference analysis, correlation analysis, redundancy analysis and path analysis, the differences as well as the main influencing factors of soil erosion resistance between different vegetation types were comprehensively analyzed. 【Result】 The comprehensive soil erosion resistance index(CSRI) varied from 0.05 to 0.72 between different vegetation types, among which maize had the minimum CSRI, then followed by CR, G, E, PM, S and CF. Moreover, CSRI varied significantly between different vegetation types with the CSRI of SL and CR being significantly lower than that of other vegetation types. Compared to M, CSRI of CR, G, E, PM, S, and CF increased by 210%, 407%, 779%, 816%, 1095% and 1217%, respectively. Differences in CSRI between different vegetation types was closely related to near-surface soil properties and vegetation characteristics. Correlation analysis indicated that CSRI was significantly positively correlated with organic matter content, water-stable aggregates content, total porosity, clay content, litter weight of the semi-decomposed layer, and root mass density, whereas significantly negatively correlated with bulk density (p<0.05). The results of redundancy analysis showed that water-stable aggregates, clay, and organic matter contents were the main factors controlling the differences in CSRI between different vegetation types, which could explain 64% of the total differences. However, the influencing mechanism of vegetation types on CSRI in purple soil was different from most previous studies carried out in other regions. Influenced by the formation process of purple soil, variation in CSRI between different vegetation types was dominantly controlled by clay content via its direct effect and indirect effect through increasing organic matter and water-stable aggregates contents. 【Conclusion】 Sloping land and orchard land are still the potential areas of soil erosion in the Three Georges Reservoir area since it has the minimum CSRI. Cupressus funebris Endl land can be promoted as soil and water conservation species in the reservoir area. The relevant research results can provide a scientific basis for the adjustment of land use structure and the selection of tree species for soil and water conservation, to realize the green and sustainable development of the Three Georges Reservoir area.