[Objective] The temporal and spatial distribution changes of different land use types based on topographic characteristics were studied in order to provide the basis for optimizing land use and ecological environmental protection. [Methods] Based on the remote sensing images of Jiangyou City in Northern Sichuan Province in 2003, 2010, and 2018, the land-use transfer matrix method was used to analyze the conversion between different types of land use. The topographic index method and distribution index method was used to analyze different land uses under the influence of topographic factors. Then, the moving window method was used to explore the spatial and temporal changes of patch density and Shannon's diversity index. Finally, the spatial and temporal changes between topographic factors and landscape indexes were analyzed by combining the two-variable spatial correlation analysis. [Results] ① From 2003 to 2010, the paddy field area decreased the most, with a reduction of 2 238.98 hm², while the construction land area increased the most, with an increase of 3 330.36 hm² during 2010—2018. The paddy field area decreased by 1 175.84 hm², and the construction land area increased by 1 614.78 hm². The total amount of land use change in Jiangyou City during 2003—2010 was higher than that in 2010—2018. ② The land transfer in the northern mountainous areas was mainly from dry land to forest grassland, the southern plains were mainly from paddy fields to construction land, and the dry land and paddy fields in the central hilly region were strongly transformed. ③ Over time, the advantages of dry land and unused land had moved closer to the middle terrain level, the dominance of construction land, paddy fields, and water areas had gradually decreased on the low terrain level, and the advantage level had a tendency to expand to higher terrain level. ④ The patch density and Shannon diversity index were higher along mountain river banks and at the intersection of hills and plains, and showed a linear distribution. The patch density in hilly areas increased with time, and the Shannon diversity index near the main urban area showed a downward trend. ⑤ The high clustering area was mainly distributed at the intersection of hills and mountains, the landscape index near the urban area was affected by other factors, which causes the area's landscape index to show insignificant correlation with the topographical level index. [Conclusion] In the area of terrain transition zone, the impacts of different landforms on the changes of various land use types are different in time and space, and the spatial correlation between the terrain factor and the landscape index is obviously different.