Most　landslides　on　the　Loess　Tableland　(Shaanxi,　China)　are　of　the　sliding-flow　type,　with　long　run-out　distances.　These　landslides,　which　tend　to　be　triggered　by　irrigation,　result　in　loss　of　life　and　damage　to　infrastructure.　In　order　to　reveal　the　characteristics　and　mechanisms　of　sliding-flow　landslides,　field　investigations,　surveys　and　indoor　tests,　including　consolidated　undrained　triaxial　tests　and　ring-shear　tests,　were　conducted.　The　apparent　friction　of　sliding-flow　loess　landslides　triggered　by　irrigation　in　the　study　area　ranged　from　0.01　to　0.25,　with　a　mean　of　0.159.　These　values　are　lower　than　those　associated　with　the　landslides　triggered　by　the　Wenchuan　Earthquake.　The　deviation　stress　decreased　to　about　99%　of　its　peak　value,　while　the　path　of　the　effective　stress　revealed　that　the　effective　normal　stress　approached　zero.　Consequently,　saturated　loess　samples　were　highly　liquefiable　under　consolidated　undrained　triaxial　tests.　The　pore　pressures　increased　sharply　and　up　to　their　peak　value　(mean　of　130　kPa),　corresponding　to　92%　of　the　applied　normal　stress.　The　path　of　effective　stress　did　not　reach　the　failure　line.　The　loose　structure　and　macro-pore　content　of　loess　provide　the　framework　for　static　liquefaction　to　occur　as　a　consequence　of　the　generation　of　fine　particles.