[Objective] The characteristics of vegetation dynamic changes and their response relationship with potential impact factors in the Aksu River basin were determined in order to provide a theoretical basis for ecological environmental protection and governance in arid areas.[Methods] Based on MODIS normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), climate, topography, soil type, and land use data, the dynamics and driving mechanisms of vegetation changes in Aksu River basin from 2000 to 2020 were analyzed using trend analysis and geographical detector methods.[Results] ① The NDVI of the Aksu River basin showed a significant increasing trend from 2000 to 2020, with a growth rate of 0.003 2/yr. The growth rate in the anthropogenic areas was significantly larger than in the non-anthropogenic areas. ② There were temporal and spatial differences in the explanatory power of potential factors for NDVI changes. Land use conversion was an important driving factor for NDVI changes in anthropogenic areas. Elevation, soil type, distance from glacier snowpack, and distance from water bodies were important driving factors for NDVI changes in non-anthropogenic areas. Interaction among factors increased the explanatory power of NDVI changes, and land use conversion interacting with soil type had the strongest explanatory power of NDVI changes in the anthropogenic areas. The interaction among background factors, distance from recharge water sources and other factors was an important combination of factors for NDVI changes in the anthropogenic areas. ③ More than 10 % of the area of the Aksu River basin in 2000-2020 underwent land use conversion, mainly in the form of mutual conversion of bare land and grassland, and a significant increase in the area of cropland, woodland, shrubland, and man-made land surface.[Conclusion] The spatial and temporal characteristics and driving mechanism of NDVI change in human activity area and non-human activity area in Aksu River basin are different. It is necessary to manage the Aksu River basin reasonably according to local conditions to promote the benign development of ecological environment in the basin.