Abstract: In this study, we analyzed the construction land expansion and measured the driving factors by using the spatial analysis model and STIRPAT model, as well as the methods of the literature analysis, comparative analysis and mathematical analysis of the partial least squares regression. The results are shown as follows. (1) The average annual expansion rate for the construction land of Chizhou City was 3.36% from 2000 to 2010, 1.70% from 2000 to 2005 and 4.62% from 2006 to 2010. (2) The marginal elastic coefficient of population, per capita GDP, secondary industry contribution, social fixed asset investment, per capita greenery area, urbanization, and the ratio of off-farm population corresponding to the expansion of construction land were 0.1835, 0.0779, 0.1320, 0.5821, 0.3419, 0.1939, and 0.0415 respectively. Some concrete measures have been taken to slow down the expansion of construction land, including the implementation of land use planning, intensification of land use regionalization, restriction of the land used for real estate and industrial construction, formulation of the development strategy, optimization of the economic structure, regulation of the land used for the landscape and urbanization level, and strengthening of the government supervision. This research can help provide a scientific basis to establish the land use planning and management strategy for the Chizhou municipal government. Moreover, it can provide a reference for the research on the driving factors of prefecture-level urban land use.

Key words: Chizhou City, construction land expansion, driving factor, measurement, STIRPAT model