[Objective] The objective of the study is to analyze the land use change in Pangu River basin in Daxinganling region and explore the responses of runoff to different land use scenarios and provide the basis for the rational land use planning. [Methods] Using the land use data of 1987, 2000, 2011 and the hydro meteorology data from 1988 to 2012, combining the soil and water assessment tool model, we analyzed response of runoff to land use changes. [Results] The land use changes during period from 1987 to 2011 included a transformation from barren land to forest and grassland, an increase in forest land and a decrease in barren land. The percentage of runoff in flooding season decreases with increasing forest area. The increase in forest area reduced the long-time average annual runoff, the runoff in flooding season and the maximum monthly peak discharge. [Conclusion] The SWAT model could well simulate monthly flow process of the Pangu River basin and the runoff decreased with increasing forest area.