Based on the latest observed ice data, characteristics of winter discharge process at Toudaoguai Hydrologic Section of the Yellow River since 1960 were analyzed. It is found that annual variation of low discharge days have obviously stage characteristics: The average days of low discharge at Toudaoguai Section in 1960-1967, 1968-1985 and 1986-2010 was 68, 17 and 37 d, respectively. Climate change and human activities are the main reasons of low discharge. Climate change impacts the channel discharge by frazil slush and ice cover growth; channel condition is the important reason for long term change of low discharge and channel-storage increment; Liujiaxia Reservoir operation directly influences the runoff process in the Inner Mongolia reaches. The main causes of low discharge days increasing in recent decade are violentair temperature variation, incoming runoff decreasing, severe channel sediment deposition and river projects increasing.