Synthetic　Aperture　Radar　is　the　only　instrument　that　can　provide　consistent　remote　sensing　data　for　south　China　with　its　persistent　capability　to　cloud　and　rain.　In　this　paper,　the　potential　of　multitemporal　ERS　and　Envisat-1　SAR　data　for　land　cover/land　use　classification　and　urban　change　is　investigated　at　a　test　area　within　Fuzhou　city,　the　capital　of　Fujian　province　in　southeastern　China.　Both　SAR　backscatter　intensity　characteristics　and　interferometric　were　analyzed.　A　parcel-based　approach　has　been　implemented　to　overcome　the　limitations　and　weaknesses　of　traditional　image　processing　methods　for　feature　extraction　from　gray　images.　Two　methods　were　carried　out　in　the　urban　dynamics　change　detection:　one　is　post-classification　comparison,　and　the　other　one　is　multitemporal　image　ratioing.　Both　the　classification　results　and　urban　change　detection　results　were　validated　by　field　survey　behaviors　and　showed　promising　application　of　ESA　SAR　data　in　southeastern　China.