The changes in land use patterns of Zhifanggou Catchment located in loess hilly region on the Loess plateau were studied using land use maps (1: 7000) derived from the aerial photos and field survey data. The re- sults showed that changes in land use pattern are closely related to human activities. The expansion of agricultural land use was the main reason for the destruction of vegetation and land use pattern change. From 1938 to 1958, the dominance index of vegetation decreased from 55. 94% to 0. 44% while the dominance index of slopping farm- land increased from 12. 65 % to 56. 05 %. After 1958, the vegetation restoration had seen a very slow period (from 1958 to 1973) and a rapid period (after 1973 ) with the changes in agricultural land uses. During this pro- cess, there are two critical points, 1958 and 1995, marked fundamental change of the landscape matrix as well as ecological environment. The study also showed that the landscape shape index was closely related to the intensity of human disturbance; the landscape diversity index was similar in 1938 and 1958, and increased gradually from l975 , and reached the highest level in 1995, then decreased again due to the conversion of slopping farmland to forest and grass. The land use pattern dominated by one land use type has been changed to a new one dominated by several land use types, mainly resulted from comprehensive management carried out in this catchment since 1973.