Surface microtopography is an important indicator of ecological restoration, regulating surface hydrology and ecological processes. In China, the implementation of the Grain for Green Project (GFGP) has transformed erosion-prone farmlands into forest and grassland systems, reshaping near-surface characteristics and enhancing soil erosion resistance. However, the synergistic evolution mechanism between surface microtopography and near-surface characteristics under the context of GFGP remains unclear. This study systematically reveals the response mechanism of microtopography changes to near-surface characteristics and soil quality evolution under different vegetation restoration years. The results showed that soil random roughness varied from 6.34 mm to 32.91 mm, exhibiting a non-linear pattern with restoration age. Multifractal analysis indicated that longer restoration durations increased spatial heterogeneity of microtopography. Vegetation traits, including litter and root quality, significantly increased with restoration years, while aboveground biomass and plant height showed pronounced seasonal variability. Soil properties-such as water-stable aggregates, clay content, and available nitrogen-increased with restoration time, whereas available potassium and phosphorus declined. In contrast, total nutrient contents remained relatively stable. Structural equation modeling and mantel test identified silt, soil organic carbon, and clay as primary drivers of microtopographic variation, with silt exerting the strongest overall effect. And soil quality gradually improved with increasing restoration age. These findings hold significant implications for ecological restoration and sustainable development in arid and semi-arid regions.