Abstract: In order to identify the spatial distribution and spatio-temporal variation rules of typical peri-urban area in Northwest China arid region, Gaoxin District of Urumqi was used as an example area in the study. Based on interpreted remotely sensed images of Landsat TM/OLI and statistical data, the authors applied remote sensing, geographic information system spatial analysis techniques, the theory of information entropy, and the method of“break point”to identify the spatial scale of peri- urban area in 2001 and 2013, and analyzed and discussed the spatial distribution change of peri-urban area from the aspects of spatial and timeorder characteristics. The results showed that (1) the chaos degree of landscape disturbance and the construction land proportion index in Gaoxin District of Urumqi had obvious spatial difference; (2) the periurban area distributed in the villages, towns and streets between south core area and north suburb with a star radial divergent form; (3) the spatial shape of the peri-urban area showed obvious shrinkage feature in the southwest and southeast directions; (4) the results had certain theory and application significance.