This paper established a Human Settlement Environment Index（HEI）evaluation system, which included terrain, land, vegetation, climate, hydrology and stony desertification. A 250 m×250 m grid was taken as basic unit based on the Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS). The natural suitability characteristics and spatial difference of human settlement environment in Central Guizhou were analyzed using the HEI model. The results showed that: (1) the HEI of Central Guizhou ranged from 14.16 to 88.97 with the average value of 50.02. The natural suitability increased from northwest to north, east, south and from middle mountain area to low mountain, river valley and slotdam region. Relief amplitude was the main restriction to spatial distribution of natural suitability; (2) The moderate suitable area was 17 080.38 km2, accounting for 31.76% of the total area. The low suitable area, comparatively suitable area, unsuitable area and optimum suitable area accounted for 25.16%, 23.13%, 10.19% and 9.76%, respectively; (3) The optimum suitable residential areas were mainly distributed in the centraleastern region of low relief amplitude, high vegetation coverage, moderate altitude, abundant rainfall, and rich surface water resources, while the unsuitable areas were located in Qixingguan district, Dafang county and Zhijin county of Bijie city, where the average altitude was more than 1700 m, the rest was distributed sporadically in the study area.

Key words：GIS; human settlement; natural suitability; central Guizhou Province