Abstract: [OBJECTIVE] Study on the spatial distribution characteristics of rural settlement.[ METHOD] On the basis of the materials such as 1:2000 present land use map and Topographical map of Baiyun village, Xinnong village, Zhaimen village of Shijiao town in Qijiang County of Chongqing. In the ArcGIS 9?2 platform, this paper quantificationally analyses the spatial distribution characteristics of rural settlement. [CONCLUSION] In the studied areas, the size of the spatial distribution characteristics of rural settlement is small and disequilibrium with ribbon pattern and round shapes. The spatial distribution characteristic of rural settlement is obviously affected by natural environment and distribution of torpograrhy. Most settlements are far away from road and road network is incomplete.