[Objective] The purpose of the ecological risk assessment of the ecological barrier belt in Three Gorges Reservoir area was to provide a reasonable theoretical basis for ecological risk management and land use optimization of the reservoir area. [Methods] Based on remote sensing data, using RS and GIS technology, the land use relative rationality index was calculated and the ecological risk assessment model was built so as to evaluate the ecological risk of ecological barrier belt located in different altitude and slope quantificationally according to the ecological risk levels and spatial autocorrelation analysis. [Results] The results showed that the proportion of lower ecological risk area was maximum, covering an area of 36.77% of the total study area. Area assessed with great or more ecological risk distribute in both sides of the Yangtze River, where construction lands and farmlands are concentrated. The relative rationality index of land use increased gradually with the increase of elevation, decreased when slope gradient increases. The spatial autocorrelation analysis of ecological risk indicated that there was a significant partial correlation in the study area. [Conclusion] The ecological risk in the research area is generally at a low level, but optimization of land use in the areas with high risk still needs to be done preferentially.