Based on 1986TM and 2000ETM data, land use and landscape pattern changes in the source region of the Yellow River were studied using geographical information(GIS) technology. The results show that the area with a high coverage of grassland, wetland and glacier decreased in the time period, while the area of barren land increased. The comprehensive land use index decreased remarkably, indicating that desertification worsened. The degree of land scape fragmentation of the study area increased, although, the diversity index and fractal degree decreased.