Desertification is a serious environmental problem, particularly because desert ecosystem support sustainable development in desertified regions. Based on spatial information of vegetation in an environmental database and on associated remote sensing data and survey information, the authors analyze the spatial pattern of desert ecosystems in western China. Desert ecosystems are classified into five groups and fifteen sub-types. Their spatial distribution is related to elevation, latitude and longitude. Their spatial characteristics are then presented, along with some recommendations for combating desertification.