Coal is regarded as the cornerstone for safeguarding China’s energy security. Abundant coal resources are found in the western mining regions，where surface damage induced by shallow coal seam mining exhibits unique characteristics. Research on the characteristics and patterns of surface damage caused by mining in gully topography areas is considered a critical component for enabling the safe and intelligent extraction of shallow coal seam working faces. Taking the 14210 working face of Zhangjiamao coal mine in northern Shaanxi as the engineering case study，numerical simulation and similar material simulation methods were comprehensively employed to investigate the characteristics and patterns of surface damage induced by shallow coal seam mining in valley areas. Numerical simulation was performed using a combined approach with Rhino^3D and FLAC^3D software. Similar material simulation utilized the VIC-3D optical non-contact strain measurement system for model deformation monitoring. The influence range of shallow coal seam mining on surface damage in the valley area was analyzed，and the characteristics of surface damage along with strain patterns were obtained. The results reveal that mining activities induce concentrated shear stress on the valley slopes，with the concentration becoming more pronounced closer to the slope crest. Similar material simulation experiments demonstrate that the characteristic surface damage manifestations in the valley area include step-shaped ground fissures on slopes and closed or uplifted fissures at the valley bottom. The vertical strain zone is primarily concentrated at the valley bottom and on the slopes near the bottom，while the horizontal strain zone is mainly distributed on both sides of the slopes. The vertical surface strain exhibits a dynamic variation pattern characterized by “increase-decrease-stabilization” with the advance of the working face. In contrast，the horizontal surface strain displays different dynamic variation patterns under diverse topographic conditions. The research results provide new insights and methodologies for understanding and predicting surface damage patterns during shallow coal seam mining in valley areas. The findings offer valuable references for predicting and mitigating surface damage during mining operations in such topographies.