Abstract: This paper focuses on the characteristics and development of groundwater resources in inland basin of northwest China as an example of Manas plain. On the basis of numeric groundwater-flow modeling in Manas plain, the groundwater budget is made and analyzed, as well as groundwater evaluation was presented. The average annual recharge rate is about 59816×104 m³/a, the safe yield is about 39690×104 m³/a and available quantity of groundwater is about 44690×104 m³/a. By means of the model, the exchangeable quantities between surface water and groundwater between hydrogeological zones were calculated. At the increase rate for groundwater demand is 1.57%～2.17% per year, the model forecasted that in year 2020 the drawdown of groundwater level in the upper and middle part of the fan will be about 2～5 m while the below the overflow zone will be 2 m less, thus the storage of groundwater in aquifer will decrease 68500.88×104 m³ accumulatively. The reasonable development pattern of water resources in this area is proposed：adequate utilization of regulative function of groundwater reservoir, appropriate enhancement of groundwater development and paying attention to environmental consequences. Four zones for developing water resources in Manas Plain are suggested at the end of this paper：the upper-fan surface water utilization zone, the middle-fan groundwater exploitation zone, the fan-fringe spring irrigation zone and alluvial plain conjuntive surface water and groundwater irrigation zone.

Key words: groundwater, surface water, Manas Plan, Xinjiang