Many　rock　avalanches　were　triggered　by　the　Wenchuan　earthquake　on　May　12,　2008　in　southwest　China.　Protection　galleries　covered　with　a　single　soil　layer　are　usually　used　to　protect　against　rockfall.　Since　one-layer　protection　galleries　do　not　have　sufficient　buffer　capacity,　a　two-layered　absorbing　system　has　been　designed.　This　study　aims　to　find　whether　an　expanded　poly-styrol　(EPS)　cushion,　which　is　used　in　the　soil-covered　protection　galleries　for　shock　absorption,　could　be　positioned　under　dynamic　loadings.　The　dynamic　impacts　of　the　two-layered　absorbing　system　under　the　conditions　of　rock　avalanches　are　numerically　simulated　through　a　2D　discrete　element　method.　By　selecting　reasonable　parameters,　a　series　of　numerical　experiments　were　conducted　to　find　the　best　combination　for　the　two-layered　absorbing　system.　The　values　of　the　EPS　layer　area　as　a　percentage　of　the　total　area　were　set　as　0%　(S1),　22%　(S2),　and　70%　(S3).　22%　of　the　area　of　the　EPS　layer　was　found　to　be　a　reasonable　value,　and　experiments　were　conducted　to　find　the　best　position　of　the　EPS　layer　in　the　two-layered　absorbing　system.　The　numerical　results　yield　useful　conclusions　regarding　the　interaction　between　the　impacting　avalanches　and　the　two-layered　absorbing　system.　The　soil　layer　can　absorb　the　shock　energy　effectively　and　S2　(0.4-m　thick　EPS　cushion　covered　with　soil　layer)　is　the　most　efficient　combination,　which　can　reduce　the　impact　force,　compared　with　the　other　combinations.　©　2016,　Science　Press,　Institute　of　Mountain　Hazards　and　Environment,　CAS　and　Springer-Verlag　Berlin　Heidelberg.