Abstract: In terms of the interaction between shallow groundwater and soil water, shallow groundwater conditions can be divided into the level at root zone, the level between root zone and critical groundwater depth, and the level lower than critical groundwater depth, respectively.This review discussed principles and processes of the interactions under various groundwater depths.Numerical modeling of soil water and salt transport had been proved to be an essential tool for studying the interactions between groundwater and soil water.Numerical models were divided into empirical model, semi-empirical and semi-mechanism model and mechanism model by the mechanism of model derivation.Some relevant models were listed and the advantages and disadvantages of each model in application were discussed.Dynamics of soil water and salt under controlled shallow groundwater tables and inversed parameters of soil properties were also investigated by using mathematic models, which would provide a theoretical support for soil water and salt modeling.