Abstract: In this paper, the settlement patterns in the Mengyang Nature Reserve of Xishuangbanna in 1950 and 1995 were studied.The residential areas were all distributed assembly, although the house styles differed from ethical groups.The amount of residential areas was increased by 3.6 times, from 16 in 1950 to 56 in 1995, and the distance among residential areas was shortened by 1/2. The distribution altitude of residential areas was decreased, 83% of residential areas in 1995 being distributed in valleys below 1100 m above sea level, which accounts for 44% of the total area.Compared with those in 1950, the residential areas in 1995 were concentrated to streams or main highways in the seasonal rain forests.

Key words: Settlement pattern, Nature Reserve, Xishuangbanna, obstacle degree, vulnerability, Haiyuan County, set pair analysis, agro-household livelihood