Abstract: This paper examined the change of land use in hilly region and its driving factors based on terrain gradient difference. We firstly calculated terrain niche and distribution index. We then analyzed land use change and its driving factors in the study area using overlay and principal component analyses. According to the terrain niche, the study area could be classified as three sections. SectionⅠ(terrain niche: 1-10) has low altitude and is mainly dominated by plain topography. The main land use types of this section are crop land, construction land and water body. The land use of this area was in development stage. The main anthropogenic driving factors were demographic factors, technology progress, economic condition and economic structure,including the indexes of population, population density, GDP, cultivated land area, fertilizer usage, effective irrigation area and the proportion of secondary industry. section Ⅱ(terrain niche: 11-25) has undulating terrain. Grass land and forest land were the most advantageous land use types. However its land use was in the stage of adjustment. Main anthropogenic driving factors were economic structure, economic growth level and the farmers' income level, including the indexes of highway mileage, per capita net income of farmers, the proportion of primary industry. Section Ⅲ (terrain niche: 26 - 50) has highest altitude and fragmented topography. In this section forested land was the most advantageous land use type. Its main human driving factors were technology progress and economic structure, including the indexes of proportion of primary industry, common cultivated land area, food production. Results from this study would be beneficial for future land use planning and regulation.