Abstract: Biological mulching measures can significantly reduce soil erosion for sensitive and vulnerable zones and exposed slopes and have the characteristics of low cost and quick effect, which are favorable qualities for application in mining areas. Simulated rainfall experiments were conducted to compare the surface runoff and sediment yields of rare earth tailings under different intensities of rainfall (60 and 90 mm/h) and rice straw mulching (0%, 50% and 100%). The simulated rainfall experiments were carried out in the Soil and Water Conservation Eco-Technology Garden of Jiangxi, which is located in De'an County, Jiujiang City, northern Jiangxi Province. A QYJY-503 artificial simulated rainfall system designed by Qingyuan Xi'an Measurement and Control Technology Co., Ltd. was used to produce the different rainfall intensities. The results showed that straw mulch resulted in reduced runoff and soil losses compared to bare soil. When the rainfall intensity was 60 mm/h, the runoff initiation time was delayed by 46% under 50% rice straw mulching compared to that under no mulching treatment, and by 91% under 100% rice straw mulching. When the rainfall intensity was 90 mm/h, the delay rates of the runoff initiation time for 50% and 100% of rice straw mulching were 3.0 and 4.8 times, respectively. Under the conditions of 0%, 50% and 100% straw mulching, the runoff yield per minute of the rare earth tailing slope reached a steady value at 6 min, 31 min and 41 min after runoff initiation, respectively. The total runoff amount decreased in the order of 0% straw mulching > 100% straw mulching > 50% straw mulching (P < 0.05), and in the order of 0% straw mulching > 50% straw mulching > 100% straw mulching (P < 0.01) under rainfall intensities of 60 and 90 mm/h, respectively. When the rainfall intensity was 60 mm/h, 50% rice straw mulch reduced the soil erosion by 73.46% compared to bare soil without mulching, and 100% rice straw mulch delayed the runoff initiation time by 84.53%. When the rainfall intensity was 90 mm/h, the reduction rates of the soil erosion induced by 50% and 100% rice straw mulch were 54.83% and 72.14%, respectively. The results indicated that straw mulching measures effectively reduced the runoff and sediment yields of the soil slopes in the mining area.