[Objective] The characteristics and driving mechanism of land use change in Chaohu basin were explored to realize optimal allocation of land resources and to promote sustainable development of social economy. [Methods] According to land use investigation and economic & social statistical yearbook in Chaohu River basin during 1996-2014

indices of land use quantity and intensity were used in spatial differences measurement model

and in principal component analysis to simulate the land use change in Chaohu River basin and its driving factors. [Results] Over the past 20 years

all types of land use had been changed in Chaohu basin

the amount

range and rate were different. Among which

cultivated land

vegetable land and grassland decreased remakbly

woodland increased slightly

half of the miscellaneous agricultural lands were changed into other types of lands that was mostly used as contstruction land. Especially

urban industrial infrastructure and traffic land increased rapidly; Rural residential land decreased slightly. Since 2004

land use intensity had increased year by year

high utilization intensity centralized around Hefei City and the surrounding regions was relatively low. In terms of the decreasing rate of cultivated land

districts of Jin'an and Yaohai

counties of Feixi

Hanshan had comparatively great values; The increase rates of urban land in counties of Feixi and Changfeng were relatively great. In the last 10 years

investment

economic development

industrial advancement

population growth and urbanization were the main driving factors of land use change in Chaohu River basin. [Conclusion] To accelerate the construction of the subcenteral group cities around the world-class city in Yangtze River delta and to set up an ecocivilized demonstration area

we need tooptimize land use spatial pattern

to release stocked land for construction

to improve the use efficiency of construction land. For all of these

land use pattern having resource-saving and environment friendly traits was prefered.