[Objective] To provide relevant suggestions for regional ecosystem protection and sustainable development based on topographic gradient via analyzing the spatial distribution of regional ecological system and the variation characteristic of it.[Methods] Topographic gradient index was referred to elevation level, topographic relief and slope variation rate. Distribution index was used to designate topographic gradient distribution and dominant position of cultivated land, waters and wetlands, forestland, grassland, settlement and desert and was analyzed using the data of ecosystem-type-based space distributions in the years of 1993, 2003 and 2013 which was acquired by remote sensing interpretation. Finally, the variations of each ecosystem service item in the years of 1993-2013 were analyzed to provide relevant suggestion for ecological protection.[Results] Cultivated land, waters and wetlands, settlement and grassland mainly distributed on low terrain gradient area; forestland distributed on high terrain gradient area; the distribution characteristic of desert ecosystem was not significantly influenced by gradient. In low terrain gradient area, the values of ecosystem service of cultivated land, waters and wetlands decreased while the values of grassland and settlement showed increasing trends. In high terrain gradient area, the value of ecosystem service of forestland increased as a whole but changed dramatically.[Conclusion] To make plan for regional ecological system of mountain land, the protection for the ecosystem at dominant position should be taken into consideration to prevent it from being replaced by those ecosystem service types having weak ecosystem service function, and to keep it sustainable and healthy in providing ecosystem service.