Abstract: Sudden landslides are generally characterized by rapid destabilization and strong destructive forces, which can easily cause significant damage and casualties once they occur. Localized locking landslides are a special type of sudden landslide, and their complex slip surface evolution process presents great difficulties for successful early warning. In this paper, the Tanggudong landslide is selected as a typical case, and numerical and physical simulations are used to reproduce the process of this type of landslide slip surface penetration. The main findings are as follows: (1)Localized locking landslides, with high-strength retaining wall rock bodies, are located in the lower part of the eroded formation, forming steep slopes, while thick layers of accumulated debris develop on the outer side; (2)The evolution process of the slip surface has the characteristic of progressive expansion from top to bottom, which can be divided into four stages: (a) the upper creep slip surface expanding downward from the top,(b) the leading edge of ice and water accumulation,(c) the creep slipping process, and (d) the destruction of the locking section caused by stress concentration and shear damage; (3)Landslide deformation occurs over a long period of time, with obvious signs of deformation, and the destruction of the locking section can trigger high-speed landslides. The results of the study can provide a reference for the early warning and prevention of this type of landslide.