Riparian ecosystems in arid regions are affected by the dynamics of both surface-and groundwaters. However, understanding the dynamics and interactions of surface-and shallow groundwaters on vegetation within extremely arid desert oases remains challenging, in part because of a paucity of monitoring data. This study examined hydrologic-vegetation interactions in the Daliyaboyi Oasis, in the Taklimakan Desert, China. Specifically, daily variations in depth to groundwater (DTG) were collected in the oasis from 2013 to 2018 in four shallow groundwater wells. Monthly values of the Automated Water Extraction Index (AWEInsh) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were also extracted from Landsat imagery during this six-year period. During summer and autumn flood seasons, the DTG decreased synchronously with flood events, indicating that surface water recharged groundwater. Conversely, during winter and spring, DTG generally reach an intra-annual minimum while surface waters were at their lowest level, suggesting that groundwater replenishes surface water. The maximum change in the DTG was 0.97-3.30 m during summer and autumn and 1.36-2.40 m during winter and spring. Vegetation predominantly expanded toward the northwest, in conjunction with changes in surface water, indicating that surface water exerts a beneficial effect on vegetation growth. Human induced alterations in surface water areas did not change the timing of intra-annual peaks and lows in surface water areas. The correlation between DTG and NDVI was predominantly affected by groundwater recharge and the degree of anthropogenic influence. Under natural hydrological conditions, vegetation was strongly reliant on groundwater; however, this dependence diminishes in regions subjected to significant human activity. The optimal DTG for vegetation growth was 3-4 m. The ecological response of dominant vegetation (Populus euphratica) lags behind increases in surface water and decreased DTG by approximately one year. This study addresses the limitations resulting from the absence of groundwater monitoring data in previous research, providing novel perspectives and insights into the hydrological and ecological processes of the Keriya River Basin and the extremely arid desert oases globally.