Abstract: Based on multi-temporal remote sensing images from 1980 to 2016, we extracted land use information in Nanjing with the hierarchical land use information extraction method based on knowledge and rule. The grid method, equal fan analysis method and shared boundary analysis method were used to analyze the intensity, direction and types of the long cycled and multi-period urban construction land expansion. The result revealed that the rate of urban expansion in Nanjing was very quick and the urban construction land area has increased 574.73 km2 during the last 36 years. The construction land expansion has obvious characteristics-expanding along the Yangtze River and transportation-oriented development. The rising of development zones and university town is the main reason for construction land expansion in Nanjing. In different periods and directions, the intensity and types of urban spatial expansion are quite different. 2008-2012 is the fastest period of urban expansion, with an average annual growth of 55.28 km2. The intensity of expansion in the south and northeast were the highest, urban expansion has changed from single center to multi center pattern. The infilling expansion mainly occurred within the main city and some areas with certain development foundation; The spread expansion was not only from main city to surrounding areas, but also included the expansion of areas which used to be enclaves; The enclave expansion was more dispersed and affected by the location of the development zone and the university town. The study also showed that the expansion of urban construction land in Nanjing has experienced the process of low speed expansion, accelerated expansion, high speed expansion and slow change. Expansion of urban construction land in Nanjing has been transformed from extensive to connotative, and more attention was paid to the adjustment and integration of internal space structure. Urban development in Nanjing should shift from flat expansion to vertical expansion, fully develop and utilize the aboveground and underground space, accelerate the integration of the urban internal space structure.