[Objective] The spatio-temporal variation characteristics of vegetation cover since returning farmland to forest were systematically analyzed. The potential of vegetation restoration were evaluated, in order to provide scientific theoretical basis and implementation suggestions for the sustainable development of ecological environment construction in Shaanxi Province.[Methods] The spatial and temporal variations of fractional vegetation cover (FVC) were investigated from 2000 to 2020 based on MODIS NDVI data, the Sen+Mann-Kendall method and Hurst index. Vegetation restoration potential was assessed by using the 'similar habitat method' in Shaanxi Province, as well as in three subregions of the Loess Plateau, Qinling-Bashan Mountain, and the Guanzhong Plain.[Results] ① The average growth rate of FVC in Shaanxi Province was 0.002 9/a from 2000 to 2020, and 74.58 % of the area had increased in FVC. Areas of significant and slight FVC increase were detected in the Loess Plateau and Qinling-Bashan Mountain where 84.46 % and 74.40 % of the areas, respectively, showed increased FVC. Slight FVC degradation trends were detected in the Guanzhong Plain where 64.56 % of the area, showed decreased FVC. ② The areas showing persistent increase in FVC accounted for 19.80 % of the entire Shaanxi Province, and accounted for 27.83 % and 13.68 % in the Loess Plateau and Qinling-Bashan Mountain, respectively. The area showing persistent decreases in FVC were predominantly in the Guanzhong Plain. ③ For the Loess Plateau region, greater vegetation recovery potential areas were detected in the northern area and the transitional area with the Guanzhong Plain, and the vegetation recovery potential was low in the Ziwuling forest area. Low vegetation recovery potentials were found in the Qinling-Bashan Mountain and Guanzhong Plain areas because of the high vegetation coverage background and the high rate of urbanization, respectively.[Conclusion] Shaanxi Province experienced significant FVC increases during 2000-2020 due to it being a key region of ecological project implementation. However, the heterogeneous spatial-temporal variation of FVC was affected by climate, topography, plant species, and human activities. The growth rate of vegetation restoration in Shaanxi Province tended to slow down, the continuous improvement ability has been lower, and the vegetation cover tended to be stable. However, the northwest region of the Loess Plateau and its border with Guanzhong Plain still has a large potential for vegetation cover restoration.