[Objective] The temporal and spatial change characteristics and driving factors of land use/cover during 2000-2015 were analyzed to provide a scientific basis for the ecological environment construction and sustainable development of Nanchong City

Sichuan Province.[Methods] Based on Landsat images and QuickBird high-precision remote sensing data in 2000

2010

and 2015

the direction and amplitude of land use/cover change and land use/cover condition index were calculated.[Results] ① Over the past 15 years

cultivated land and woodland have been the major land use/cover types in Nanchong City

accounting for approximately 80%; however

there were varying degrees of mutual conversion among land use/cover types. ② The area of woodland increased by 1 006.2 km2

which was mainly converted from cultivated land and grassland

whereas the area of construction land increased by 965.4 km2

which was mostly converted from water and cultivated land. The area of cultivated land

grassland

and waterbody were reduced by 1 549.8

307.9

and 90.4 km2

respectively. ③ Over the past 15 years

the change in the land use/cover condition index showed a good trend for the woodland and construction land (i.e.

the condition index change rate of land use/cover was positive)

whereas the cultivated land showed a slip trend (i.e.

the condition index change rate of land use/cover was negative).[Conclusion] During the past 15 years

the land use/cover in Nanchong City has changed greatly. The major driving factors of land use/cover change in Nanchong City were topography

population

urbanization level

and returning farmland to forestry.