Urban　spatial　expansion　in　the　Quanzhou　region　of　southeastern　China　has　been　accelerated　over　the　past　20　years.　This　has　caused　land　cover　changes　and,　thus,　has　significant　impacts　on　the　local　ecosystem　and　climate.　To　study　the　urban　expansion　and　heat　island　dynamics　of　the　region　over　the　past　20　years,　multitemporal　Landsat　TM　images　of　1987,　1996,　and　2006　were　used.　The　estimation　of　the　urban　expansion　was　assisted　by　the　index-based　built-up　index　(IBI)　through　enhancing　built-up　land　features　in　the　images.　The　urban-heat-island　(UHI)　effect　was　assessed　using　the　urban-heat-island　ratio　index　(URI).　Multitemporal　analysis　indicates　that　the　great　increase　in　urban　area　has　resulted　in　the　development　of　UHIs　in　the　region.　Regression　statistics　reveal　that　built-up　land　has　a　positive　exponential　relationship　with　land　surface　temperature　(LST).　Therefore,　the　increase　in　built-up　land　percentage　can　exponentially　accelerate　the　rise　of　LST.　©　2009　IEEE.