Based on two Landsat MSS/TM remote sensing images from 1980 to 2007 and 150000 topographic map,a quantitative research on land cover spatial temporal changes pattern of different elevation and slope grades of Yuli County during 1980-2007 was conducted with remote sensing and geographic information system technologies.Results showed that (1)Cropland,wood-grassland,water body,built up land changed prominently during the past three decades,cropland was mainly converted from wood-grassland,water body was mainly transferred into wood-grassland;(2)Built-up land expanded in high elevation area;cropland and built-up land distributed consistently on each gradient,change direction of both land covers was identical,and expanded into the region of steeper slope;(3)Wood-grassland increased dramatically at locations below 3,but it showed a decline trend at position above 3;(4)Water body kept shrink across the whole region.It is feasible to predict the spatial distribution of land cover based on topographic data,remote sensing images and social economic data.