Shulehe River is one of the three largest inland river water systems in Hexi Corridor of Gansu province, China, and it has been obviously affected by climate change in recent 100 years. This research evaluates the adapting capacity against climate change in the Shulehe River basin based on field survey and questionnaire investigation, and puts forward the adaptive strategy for local social economy development. The results show that the adapting capacity against climate change is comparatively weak in the Shulehe River basin, and the main manifestations include: Climate change is significant and the amount of water resources decrease; grasslands in upper reaches of the Shulehe River degrade; The ability of herdsmen coping with climate change is limited and is weakening; The income gap between citizens and rural residences is becoming larger, and it is harmful to steady development of local society. The adaptive strategy against climate change are as follows: to strengthen the intergovernmental cooperation at all levels and their guidance; to use and manage water resources integrally; to improve education to the lower cultural residents; to accelerate transfer from rural surplus labor to city; to carry out ecological environment protection policies as before; and to optimize industrial structure.

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