The farming-pasturing ecotone in North China is a typical ecological vulnerable zone.Based on thedata obtained from three composite Landsat 5TM/ETM+images of 1990

2000and 2010in Jingbian Countylocated in the north of Shaanxi Province

this paper explores land use change and driving foctors in the transitional zone by land use change degree and transition matrix.Results show that:(1)Woodland and buildingland increased from 1990to 2010

whereas cropland

grassland

water area and unused land decreased.(2)The land use change in Jingbian County mainly occurred after 2000year

especially the rapid change of building land from 1990to 2010.(3)The amount of transformed land among cropland

woodland and grasslandwas larger and the three land use types were mostly changed into building land

which mainly occurred in thenorthern suburb area of Jingbian County from 1990to 2010.(4)Rapid economic development

especially theexploitation of oil and gas resources

were the main driving factors for the change of building land

while theimplementation of the returning farmland to forestland/grassland project was the main driving factor for thechanges of cropland

woodland and grassland.