Abstract: Based on the GIS technology and terrain niche index analysis method,land use change of Baiyun district,Guangzhou city was studied.The results showed that during the process of rapid urbanization from 1988 to 2002 in the studied area,the utilizing intensity of the areas with low terrain niche index became higher than that of the areas with high terrain niche index gradually,and the development extent of land also enlarged.Urban development was expanded greatly from the lower terrain niche areas to the higher terrain niche areas;Forest,farmland,orchard were under the pressure of urban development,their spatial distribution was moved to the higher terrain niche areas;the water area increased,but its distribution was changed to the low terrain niche because water expansion required relatively strict natural condition(e.g.water sources) of low terrain niche area.