Abstract:The average shear wave velocity at a depth of 30 meters (Vs30) is an important parameter for site classification used extensively in both domestic and international seismic design codes for buildings and structures, as well as for correcting local site effects. However, the applicability of the widely used Vs30 data provided by the USGS for the China region still requires further verification. In this study, the correlation between the terrain slope in Sichuan Province and the shallow average wave velocity, as well as the relationship between the Vs30 and shallow average shear wave velocity, were used to produce a Vs30 dataset for Sichuan Province. This dataset was then applied to the seismic intensity assessment of the magnitude 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan. The results show that the Vs30 results for Sichuan Province obtained from this study are closer to the actual situation compared to the widely used USGS Vs30 data. The rapid assessment of seismic intensity for the Wenchuan earthquake using the Vs30 data from this study yielded more accurate determinations of the heavily and severely damaged areas. The findings of this study can enhance the accuracy of seismic emergency outputs for Sichuan Province in the future, providing primary reference materials for post-earthquake emergency command decisions and emergency rescue efforts.