[Objective] This paper analyzed the temporal and spatial evolution of the land use/cover change in Gelmud basin in order to provide a reference basis for the coordination of Gelmud's development and protection.[Methods] We analyzed the temporal and spatial evolution of the land use/cover change in Gelmud basin during the period from 2000 to 2010 with the support of RS and GIS technology. The main data sources included the TM remote sensing images in 2000

2005

2010 and the vector data in 2010 of the study area.[Results] The unused land has become the main land use/cover type in Golmud basin.(1) The greatest changed occurred in construction land

it increased by 227.83%; While the least change occurred in the forest land

it increased by 1.24%.(2) The grassland

cultivated land

construction land and forest land was transformed into the unused land

forest

waters and unused land

which was originated from the unused land

construction land

forest and unused land

respectively. In addition

water area was mainly transformed into the unused land which was originated from the unused land;(3) The difference value of land utilization index △P was-3.04 during the land use adjustment period from 2000 to 2005

and it was 1.62 during the land use development period from 2005 to 2010;[Conclusion] The cultivated land

forest land

construction land showed an increasing trend

while the grassland

water area showed a decreasing trend in Gelmud basin. The information entropy of the land use structure is small and the diversity of land use is low in Gelmud basin.