Abstract: In this study, statistical data, research literature, and survey data were used to examine the overall situation of rural and township development and resources and environment in Northwest China. The characteristics of the stress caused by rural and township development on resources and environment and the main contradictions in typical areas were summarized. Also, a path for the coordination between rural and township development and resource and environment is proposed. The results show that:(1) Considering the overall situation and development trend of the region, the population in Northwest China is decreasing, the agricultural productivity is increasing, the construction of environmental protection facilities in rural and townships is lower than the national average level, the per capita water resources is low and the agricultural water supply is in shortage, the use of chemical fertilizers, plastic films and pesticides is increasing,while the high-quality cultivated land area is decreasing; (2) Considering the regional stress characteristics and the main contradictions, the water resource supply is a bottleneck, and soil salinization in irrigated agricultural areas has been intensified; the overall carrying capacity of resources and environment in rural and townships is relatively low, and agricultural land as reserve resource is insufficient. Extreme climate and overgrazing in alpine pastoral areas have led to the reduction of grassland yield, serious degradation of grassland, as well as a noticeable contradiction between the amount of livestock and the area of grassland; industrial structural problems in rural and townships are significant, and regional functions are weakened as a whole. Over exploitation of mines in Qinling protection zone has resulted in serious water and soil pollution, awareness of environmental protection in rural and townships is weak, and the construction of environmental protection facilities lags behind. (3) From the perspective of coordination path, innovative technologies should be applied to agricultural activities, and their utilization efficiency should be improved; water-saving agricultural practices should be developed in accordance with local conditions; the industrial structure of alpine pastoral areas should be adjusted, and a reasonable planning should be performed to ease the contradiction between grassland and livestock; the management and control of mining areas should be strengthened, and attention should be paid to ecological restoration; industrial structure transformation should be reinforced. The local government should establish a mechanism to strengthen the pollution source control and apply multi-faceted investments to control non-point source pollution in rural and townships.

Key words: Northwest China, rural and township development, resources and environment, main contradiction, coordination path