Regional difference of land use changes is a comprehensive reflection of land resources and economic development in an area.Analysis on regional differences and influencing factors of land use changes provides a scientific basis for sustainable use of land resources.Temporal and spatial changes of cultivated land

forest land

residential land

and industry and mining land in the three large regions of Northern Shaanxi Province

Guanzhong District and Southern Shaanxi Province from 1996to 2009were analyzed by taking land use dynamic degree

relative change rate

land use intensity and benefit as indicators.Results showed that the area of cultivated land continued to decline and the areas of forest land

residential land

industry and mining land increased in the recent 14years.With the implementation of the returning farmland to forestland/grassland project

the area of cultivated land in Northern Shaanxi Province declined most obviously and forest land increased fast.Construction of the national energy and heavy chemical industry base has driven a rapid increase of industry and mining land in the district.Rapid economic development lead to the rapid growths of residential land

and industry and mining land in Guanzhong District

which was also the main cause for cultivated land decreasing in the area.With the limits of natural conditions and economic development in Qinling-Bashan Mountains of Southern Shaanxi Province

all types of land changes were relatively slow

and land use intensity and benefits were significantly low as compared to Guanzhong District and Northern Shaanxi Province.