Land use in northwestern Shanxi Province, China has changed significantly over the past 30 years. Farmland decreased while grassland and woodland increased and decreased in patterns. Industrial and resident lands expanded, water bodies and unused land decreased. Farmland turned into grassland and woodland, industrial and resident lands increased from farmland. Water bodies transformed into grassland and farmland. Unused land decreased due to ecological engineering and urban growth. Changes were more significant before 2000. Population pressure and economic development affected industrial and farmland, forestry policies impacted woodland and grassland, and drought influenced water bodies and forest restoration.