Duringtherapidurbanizationperiod,thecontradictionbetweendemandfortheconstructionlandandthepreservationofcultivatedlandforfoodsecurityisgettingmoreandmoreseriousinChina.Withtheurbanizationtheruralsettlementlandisincreasinginsteadofdecreasing.Thispaperaimsatfindingthedrivingforcesforruralsettlementlandexpansion.Basedonlandusechangesurveydata(1996-2006)bytheMinistryofLandandResourcesP.R.C.,thispaperfindsthatpercapitaareaforruralsettlementlandismorethanpercapitaareaforcity,townshipandindustriallandineachprovinceexceptTibet.Besides,ruralsettlementlandareaandpercapitaruralsettlementlandareaareincreasingwhiletheruralpopulationisdecreasinginmostprovinces.Themainproblemsofruralsettlementlandusearelowefficiency,highvacancyrate,chaoticlayoutandillegaloccupancy.Thenthedrivingforcesforruralsettlementlandexpansion,includingeconomicdevelopment,familyincome,familyscale,psychologicalfactors,urbanization,transportation,lackofplanning,limitedcirculationofdwelling-houselandandimperfectsocialsecurity,areexploredbasedonaboveanalysis.Finally,policyrecommendations,inviewofdifferentinfluencingfactors,areputforwardtocontrolthedisorderexpansionofruralsettlementland.
