Abstract:Based on the strong motion recordings,especially the recordings of the great Wenchuan Earthquake in Gansu and Shaanxi,the characteristics of ground motion during strong earthquakes and the response features of different sites in Gansu province are studied.It is denoted that local earthquakes have special characteristics of ground motion which are identified from the interplate events,and they have big difference from events in western U.S.A..Also the characteristics of ground motion are closely depended on the site conditions and local topography,so the Gansu territory is able roughly departed into 4 areas with different site conditions,i.e.,Hexi Corridor,the loess regions in central part of Gansu,the mountain region in Southern Gansu and the plateau in Southern Gansu.Every area possesses special features of ground motion and its characteristics are depended upon the earthquake mechanism.The author proposes to study the recordings of the great Wenchuan Earthquake should be in details.