Abstract: Rapid urban expansion is accompanied by a series of ecological problems while improving the level of social economy. How to reasonably coordinated the contradiction between urban expansion and ecological protection is an important task in China’s new urbanization construction. Scientifically identifying the conflict between urban expansion and ecological protection is the basis.In this paper, the Poyang Lake Ecological Economic Zone is used as a research area, and the spatial Bayesian method is used to identify potential compatible areas and conflict zones for urban expansion and ecological protection.The results show that: (1) the distribution of urban expansion suitability is relatively concentrated, the most suitable areas are mainly distributed in the surrounding counties of the main urban area, Yujiang County and Leping City, the suitable areas are mainly distributed in Xinjian District, Ruichang City, Gao’an City and Duchang County, the area is mainly distributed in Wuning County and the east bank of Poyang Lake, the unsuitable areas are mainly distributed in Shuyang County, Fuliang County and Wuning County; (2) the distribution of ecological protection suitability is relatively scattered, the most suitable areas are mainly distributed in Wuning County, Ruichang City, Shuyang County and Fuliang County, the suitable areas are mainly distributed in the northeast, southeast, Yujiang and Hukou counties of the main city, the main distribution of the less suitable areas is more scattered, and the districts (cities) and counties are distributed, the unsuitable areas are mainly distributed in the surrounding areas of Nanchang and the east bank of Poyang Lake; (3) the comprehensive analysis of urban expansion and ecological protection suitability evaluation results are mainly distributed in Ruichang City, Nanchang County and Xinjian District; the areas with high development suitability in the compatible areas are mainly distributed in the southeast of Nanchang City and Yongxiu County, Xingzi County and Yujiang County, the areas with high ecological protection suitability are mainly distributed in the east bank of Wuyang Lake and Wuning County; the areas with low urban expansion and ecological protection suitability are mainly distributed in Shuyang County, Yugan County and Duchang County.The research results could serve as a support for land use planning and ecological security protection.