On the basis of spatial Kriging interpolation,grid calculation,and regional statistics of ArcGIS,the spatial patterns of natural suitability of human settlements in the Guanzhong Region have been evaluated using annual average temperature,monthly relative humidity,and average precipitation from 68 meteorological stations in the region during the period of 1971-2000. Spatial data was also collected from maps of water bodies and population,a 1∶ 250 000 DEM,and a remote sensing image(TM) of 2005. Furthermore,the suitability and limiting factors in each region were analyzed through Hopfield neural network clustering. The analysis results indicate that: (1) the natural suitability of human settlements in the region has a layered distribution pattern. The human settlement index of an area increases with distances to the densely populated center. The suitable area is most widely distributed,accounting for 42. 46% of the total area of the region; the moderately suitable area is the second,accounting for 29. 77%; the unsuitable area accounts for 15. 13%; the highly suitable area distributed sparsely,accounting for 12. 64%. The total population of 22. 27% in the region is distributed in the unsuitable area; the total population of 61. 95% is distributed in the moderately suitable and suitable area,correspondingly accounting for 72. 23% of the total area. (2) the topography,hydrology indices,altitude,and annual average precipitation are the main limiting factors,and significantly restrict the natural suitability of human settlements. (3) the suitable areas for human habitation affected very little by natural and social factors.