Abstract: In order to study the suitability of MODIS data and methods on the extraction of rice planting area in Northeast China, this study extracted the rice planting area in Northeast China, using unsupervised classification and decision tree method, based on the MODIS data. The accuracy of the extraction results was analyzed with MODIS, SPOT and ALOS remote sensing data. The results showed that, it had satisfied results for MODIS data on monitoring rice area. Using unsupervised classification method, the rice area was extracted from MODIS-LSWI data in Heilongjiang Province during the transplanting period. Compared with SPOT data, the extraction precision reached 97.4%. Using decision tree method, the rice area was extracted from MODIS data in Liaoning Panjin area during the transplanting period. Compared with ALOS data, the extraction precision reached 89.5%. So it was feasible for monitoring rice area by using MODIS data and methods in Northeast China.