Land use in Northern Shaanxi changed significantly from 1991 to 2001. Farmland and unused land decreased, while forest land, garden land, grassland, and residential areas increased. The overall rate of change in land use was 0.31% per year. Garden land had the highest conversion rate at 16.68% per year. Spatial differences were observed in the distribution of different land types. The study also found that the pattern of land use in the region has been gradually becoming less sustainable over the past 11 years.