Based on Landsat TM/ETM imagery and statistic data

the quantitative research has been under-taken to explore the dynamic changes of the urbanization patterns

the construction land expansion from 1995 to 2010 and its natural and cultural driving force in Quanzhou urban area using five determinants:expansion speed

expansion intensity

spatial and temporal distribution

land use changes and expansion drives etc.The results showed that:(1)The urban construction land in Quanzhou City is mainly distributed in the old Quanzhou City

Huian County and Jinjiang City

which expanded along the development axis of Luoyang River and Jingjiang River;(2)The urban construction land in Quanzhou City grew gradually during period between 1995 and 2010

which could be divided into two phases:the rapid development between 1995 and 2005

and slow development between 2005 and 2010;(3)The new built up land was mainly converted from cropland with some from orchard and forest;(4) Physical and social factors such as population and topography economic growth

policy play important roles in the expansion of construction land in urban area of Quanzhou City.