Surface water represents one of the crucial factors influencing the safety of shallow coal mining within the Western China mining region. The objective of this study was to investigate the infiltration properties of surface water in coal seam mining under gullies and to propose effective preventive measures. We selected the typical working face of the Buliangou coal mine as the study area and conducted a series of physical and mechanical tests on rock samples. Further, we employed the UDEC and COMSOL numerical models to examine the physical and mechanical properties, overburden mining fissures distribution laws, and surface water infiltration characteristics. We noted a good agreement between the measured (223.86 m) and modeled height (230-250 m) of the water-conductive fractured zone. When the working face advanced by 200 m, 250 m, and 300 m, the water-conductive fracture zone connected the surface, and the surface water in the gully infiltrated into the goaf along the fissure, resulting in a stable water volume of 41.9 m3/h, 56.9 m3/h, and 75.0 m3/h, respectively. In the former scenario, when the working face advanced by 200 m, 250 m, and 300 m, an excellent agreement was observed between the numerically derived (41.9 m3/h, 56.9 m3/h, 75.0 m3/h) and field measured (40.0 m3/h, 53.6 m3/h, 70.8 m3/h) stable water volume in the goaf. Consequently, the numerical model accurately predicted the water volume in the goaf from the surface water of the coal seam mining under the gully and can be utilized for further predictions under different advancing distances. Ultimately, we propose preventive measures to curtail the surface water infiltration, effectively barring the influx of surface water into the goaf, precluding the occurrence of a mine water disaster, and ensuring secure mining operations. The research results can provide theoretical guidance for the efficient prevention and control of surface water beneath gullies during the coal seam mining process.