Abstract: This paper took Shaanxi Province as the research object, discussed the terrain gradient characteristic of land use distribution change based on terrain gradient index, distribution index and land use degree comprehensive index and DEM data in 2000 and 2010. The results showed that the farmland, forestland and grassland were the main land use types in Shaanxi Province, which all together accounted for above 95% of the total area; the change characteristic during 2000 to 2010 was that the area of farmland decreased gradually, which mainly turned to grassland (3761.33 km2) and forestland (1198.61 km2), the area of construction land increased obviously, which mainly came from the embezzlement of farmland (729.66 km2) and grassland (225.86 km2); the distribution index of grassland, farmland, garden land, water area, construction land and unused land increased with the increase of terrain, while forestland showed an opposite trend. The index of land use degree was higher in the region of lower terrain index, and the land use conversion was frequent in this region, the index of land use degree decreased with the increase of terrain index.