Abstract: With a case study in Zhongshan city and based on remote sensing interpretation data of land uses, the land use intensity was calculated using the method of system grid sampling, and the spatial distribution characteristics of land use intensity as well as the driving functions of human activities explored. The results showed that the spatial scale of 1 200 m could well reflect the spatial heterogeneity characteristics of land use intensity. The spatial distribution of land use intensity in the research area showed a strong positive correlation; from 2000 to 2010, the distribution patterns of land use intensity transformed from the multipoint to polarization, showing the diffusion effect of the core region. On the whole, the spatial variation of land use intensity was affected by the scale, and the isotropy was weakened and transformed into obvious anisotropy with the increase of scale. The difference of natural conditions and regional development policies led to obvious differentiation of land use intensity among various administrative units. Driven by human activity influences, the land use intensity heterogeneity showed the tendency of increase in the research area.