There　is　an　underlying　assumption　that　run-off　and　rainfall　in　a　given　urban　catchment　are　equivalent　and,　further,　to　use　design　rainfall　depth　as　a　proxy　for　run-off　in　hydrological　analyses　and　calculations.　However,　when　employing　this　approach,　it　is　difficult　to　accurately　and　fully　reflect　the　variability　in　rainfall　characteristics.　To　address　this　issue,　a　method　for　the　copula-based　multivariate　frequency　analysis　of　rainfall　characteristics　was　proposed　by　using　historical　rainfall　data　(1961-2012)　from　Guangzhou　city.　First,　continuous　rainfall　time　series　were　divided　into　individual　rainfall　events　using　the　rainfall　intensity　method.　Then　the　characteristic　variables　of　rainfall　were　calculated　by　sampling　using　the　annual　maximum　method.　Finally,　a　three-dimensional　copula　was　introduced　to　build　a　multivariate　joint　probability　distribution　model　of　rainfall　characteristics.　The　results　show　that　the　copula-based　multivariate　analysis　is　easy　to　implement　and　provides　reliable　results.　This　approach　can　be　used　to　analyse　the　conditional　probabilities　of　variables　for　different　orders　of　magnitude.　It　can　fully　reflect　rainfall　characteristics,　which　serve　an　important　reference　for　urban　flood　control　and　drainage　planning.　©,　2015,　Harbin　Institute　of　Technology.　All　right　reserved.