【Objective】Lateral seepage around the paddy bund is an important pathway for water loss in the paddy rice field. Revealing the evolution process of soil physical properties and the characteristics of soil water and nitrogen distribution in the intermediate zone between paddy field and bund is important. This is crucial for understanding the mechanism of water and nitrogen loss in the intermediate zone. 【Method】The intermediate zone between paddy field and bund with a cultivation history of 2 y, 19 y, and >100 y was considered for this study. Soil properties, including soil bulk density, equivalent porosity, soil-water characteristic curve, saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_s), soil water content and soil nitrogen concentration were determined through field sampling and laboratory analysis. The evolution process of soil physical properties and the mechanism of water and nitrogen loss in the intermediate zone were evaluated. 【Result】The paddy rice cultivation history affected soil physical properties. With the cultivation history extending, the difference in soil bulk density between paddy field plow layer (PL) and paddy bund surface layer(SL), and between paddy field plow pan(PP) and paddy bund hard pan (HP) increased. The microporosity(with diameter <0.03 mm) in PL and SL increased with paddy rice cultivation history, while the macroporosity (with diameter >0.3 mm and >0.03 mm) decreased in other soil layers for both in paddy field and bund. This showed a quicker decrease rate in the paddy field than for the bund. Differences in soil water holding capacity (SWHC) between paddy fields and bund were identified in the measured water suction range (0~100 kPa). Similar SWHC was observed between PL and SL in both 2 y and 19 y paddy rice fields, while a much higher SWHC was found in PL than SL in >100 y paddy rice fields. Also, a similar SWHC between PP and HP were identified in both 2 y and 100 y paddy rice fields, while a much higher SWHC was found in PP than HP in the 19 y paddy rice field. A higher SWHC was observed in the paddy bund subsoil layer (BSL) than the paddy field subsoil layer (FSL) for both 19 y and >100 y paddy rice fields. With paddy rice cultivation history extending, the differences in K_s between PL and SL decreased, while it increased between PP and HP. For example, the Ks in PP was 1.10, 6.90, and 6.32 times that in HP for 2 y, 19 y, and >100 y paddy rice fields, respectively. Also, a much higher K_s was observed in bund than the field for >100 y paddy rice field, while no significant differences were observed for the other two fields. The soil water and nitrogen distribution patterns were affected by the evolution of soil physical properties in both paddy fields and bund. Also, a higher soil water content and soil nitrogen concentration were observed in 19 y and >100 y paddy rice fields than in 2 y paddy rice fields, which was mainly accumulated in the PL for both 19 y and >100 y paddy rice fields. 【Conclusion】For the young paddy rice field, soil water and nitrogen rapidly seepage from both paddy fields and bund identically. With the paddy rice cultivation history extending, soil water and nitrogen are expected to be lost more quickly from the paddy bund than the field. For >100 y paddy rice fields, the PP in the newly built bund will degrade with time, then the paddy bund will be the key site for soil water and nitrogen lose again. Therefore, the soil water and nitrogen loss from the paddy bund should be given more attention, and the focus should be more on old paddy than young paddy rice fields.