A deep analysis of the transformation trajectory and structural changes of land use in the Yellow River Basin is a key factor to enhance the sustainable utilization efficiency of land resources in the area. Using remote sensing （RS） and geographic information systems （GIS） technology， this study selected six periods of RS imagery from 1990 to 2018 as data sources. It combines geoscience information mapping and statistical methods to analyze the spatial patterns and structural characteristics of land use changes in the Yellow River Basin. The study found that： （1） Between 1990 and 2018， changes in cultivated land and construction land were the most dramatic， with a net decrease of 8663 km² in cultivated land and a significant increase of 13 109 km² in construction land； unused land decreased by 8131 km²， while forested and grassland areas experienced slight growth； （2） There were frequent conversions among different land types， particularly notable transformations among grassland， forestland， and cultivated land， as well as the conversion of cultivated land to construction land； （3） Although there were significant replacements in land use types over the 28 years， the overall land use pattern in the basin remained basically stable， with relatively smooth structural evolution， showing zonal differentiation characteristics from upstream to downstream. This study systematically revealed the temporal and spatial evolution patterns and structural transformation characteristics of land use in the Yellow River Basin， providing strong data support and decision-making references for spatial planning， ecological restoration， and land policy formulation in this region.

Land use  /  Land use transformation  /  Geo-information graphic  /  The Yellow River Basin