In　this　paper,　the　natural　wetlands　distribution　area　(NWDA)　of　Fuzhou　city　was　selected　as　a　case　study　for　quantifying　the　impact　of　land　use/land　cover　(LULC)　changes　on　patterns　of　the　urban　heat　island　(UHI)　and　characterizing　wetland　thermal　properties　in　response　to　rapid　urbanization　from　1989　to　2009.　The　results　show　that　dramatic　changes　in　LULC　have　occurred　that　have　drastically　altered　the　land　surface　characteristics　and　spatiotemporal　patterns　of　the　UHI.　Additionally,　wetland　degradation　due　to　strong　pressure　from　urban　encroachment　and　its　effect　on　the　thermal　properties　of　wetland　landscapes　was　observed.　Fragmented　wetland　patches　of　small　sizes　always　exhibit　high　land　surface　temperatures　(LST),　but　aggregated　patches　of　larger　sizes　exhibit　lower　and　more　stable　LST.　The　area　of　wetland　patches　characterized　by　a　relatively　low　LST　(＜　20 °C)　decreased　markedly　over　the　time　period　studied.　Furthermore,　there　is　a　significant　linear　relationship　between　patch　size　and　the　area　of　wetland　with　low　LST.　According　to　temporal　analysis　on　inter-annual　variations　of　UHI　intensity　(UHII),　the　built-up　land　exhibited　the　highest　temperature.　Spatially,　there　were　significant　LST　gradients　from　the　city　center　to　the　surrounding　peri-urban　and　rural　areas.　©　2016,　Society　of　Wetland　Scientists.