This　study　utilizes　emerging　hotspot　analysis　to　explore　the　spatio-temporal　trends　of　vegetation　optical　depth　(VOD)　observed　in　Ku,　X,　and　C　microwave　bands　over　China　from　2002　to　2017.　Furthermore,　it　analyzes　the　impacts　of　anthropogenic　activities,　represented　by　land　use　change,　on　the　spatial　and　temporal　changes　in　VOD,　and　employs　Partial　Least　Squares　Structural　Equation　Model　to　quantitatively　assess　the　climatic　effects　on　VOD　changes.　Overall,　VOD　exhibits　a　southeast-to-northwest　gradient　over　China,　with　central　and　southern　regions　identified　as　VOD　hotspots,　while　Xinjiang　and　the　central　Inner　Mongolia　Plateau　are　identified　as　VOD　cold　spots.　Regions　with　consistent　emerging　hotspot　analysis　results　across　the　three　bands　demonstrate　a　＂greening＂　phenomenon　in　sparsely-vegetated　regions　nationwide.　Additionally,　the　association　between　land　use　change　and　emerging　hotspots　reveals　strong　impacts　of　human　activities　on　VOD　variations.　Specifically,　persistent　and　intensified　VOD　hotspots　predominantly　correspond　to　scenarios　where　grassland　is　converted　to　forest.　Attribution　of　VOD　changes　using　Partial　Least　Squares　Structural　Equation　Modeling　indicates　that,　in　the　humid　zone,　where　hydrothermal　conditions　are　favorable　and　soil　moisture　is　abundant,　further　increases　in　temperature　and　precipitation　may　inhibit　vegetation　growth.　In　contrast,　in　the　arid　zone,　the　inhibitory　effect　of　temperature　is　less　prominent.　In　the　Tibetan　Plateau,　increases　in　both　temperature　and　precipitation　will　promote　vegetation　growth.　The　insights　from　this　study　are　expected　to　provide　scientific　support　for　monitoring　ecosystem　changes,　uncovering　their　driving　forces,　and　assessing　the　effectiveness　of　ecological　measures.　©　2025　Science　Press.　All　rights　reserved.