Abstract: Using fractal theory and GIS method with remote images in 1980, 1995, 2000, 2006 and 2012, fractal characteristics of land use change were studied and the complexity, stability and dynamic change tendency of different land use types change were quantitative analyzed in Shiyang river basin. The results showed that cultivated land, urban and rural residential land and industrial and mining land, forest land and water area had taken on increase tendency, and unused land and grassland had decrease tendency in last 33 years in Shiyang river basin. The different period land use types had the spatial fractal structure, and the complexity and stability of different land use types took on fluctuant change tendency in Shiyang river basin. The order of the value of fractal dimension of different land use types were as follows: the fractal dimension value of water area ＞ that of cultivated land ＞ that of forest land ＞ that of grassland ＞that of unused land ＞ that of urban and rural residential land and industrial and mining land in 1990, 2000 and 2005, and from high to low order were water area, cultivated land, grassland, forest land, unused land, urban and rural residential land and industrial and mining land in 2006 and 2012, respectively. The average fractal dimension values of land use of Shiyang river basin were 1.5296, 1.5025, 1.5445, 1.5631 and 1.5676 in 1980, 1995, 2000, 2006 and 2012, respectively. The average fractal dimension values of different land use types arranged in number order from big to small were as follows: water area (1.8317) ＞ cultivated land (1.5678) ＞ forest land (1.5351) ＞grassland (1.5315) ＞unused land (1.4413) ＞ urban and rural residential land and industrial and mining land (1.3411) in Shiyang river basin. The average stability index of land use of Shiyang river basin were 0.1083, 0.0997, 0.1228, 0.1167 and 0.1186 in 1980, 1995, 2000, 2006 and 2012, respectively. The average stability index of different land use types arranged in number order from big to small were as follows: water area (0.3317) ＞ urban and rural residential land and industrial and mining land (0.1589) ＞cultivated land (0.0635) ＞unused land (0.0587) ＞ forest land (0.0351) ＞grassland (0.0315) in Shiyang river basin. The research of fractal complexity, stability and change tendency characteristic of land use change would provide decision-making basis and technical support for coordinating development between rational exploitation and utilization of land resources and ecological environment in region.