Abstract: In this study, monthly NOAA/AVHRR-NDVI digital images from 1983 to 1992 with 8km spatial resolution, were used to build an index of land cover change amplitude (D), and to study the regional distribution rule of land cover change in China. It showed that land cover change amplitude in the northwest inland and Tibet Plateau were small, and amplitude of the most southeast region (southeast and southwest monsoon area) was bigger than other regions. From the southeast to the northwest, change amplitude showed a declining trend and it can be found obvious strap regularity. Based on these results, a regional division of land cover change was carried out, and there were nine first class regions, 15 second class regions, indicating further the regional difference of land cover change in China. Nine first class regions included: (1) lesser to larger amplitude area of mountain in the northwest; (2) lesser amplitude area of inland plateau and basin in the northwest, and the west of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau; (3) lesser to larger amplitude area in the middle and east of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau; (4) larger amplitude area on the southeast edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and the west of the Yunnan-Gui Zhou Plateau; (5) middle to large amplitude area on coastal region in the southeast, and Hainan; (6) large amplitude area of mountain in Taiwan; (7) middle to large amplitude area of mountain and hill in the southern China; (8) middle to larger amplitude area of mountain in Northeast China, and of mountain and plain in North China; (9) lesser amplitude area in the middle of Inner Mongolia Plateau.