Objective  The study of the spatial evolution characteristics and equilibrium of Shandong Province from the perspective of “Three zones” can provide a useful reference for optimizing the pattern of territory space development and protection.

  Method  Based on the eight periods of land use data from 1980-2020, this paper analyzed the spatial-temporal evolution characteristics and equilibrium of Shandong Province from different scales with the method of land use transfer matrix, land use dynamics, spatial auto-correlation and Spatial Lorentz curve.

  Result  ① Agricultural space is the main territory space in Shandong Province, accounting for 75% of the total area, and the proportion of urban space and ecological space is about 1∶2. The evolution of territory space was generally manifested in the reduction of agricultural space and ecological space, and the expansion of urban space. ② The reduction of agricultural production space stems from the encroachment of rural living space and urban space, and the occupation time of urban space is longer. The rural living space showed a weak growth trend, and the equilibrium was relatively stable. ③ The transfer-in extent of urban living space was relatively high, and the distribution tended to be balanced; industrial and mining production space was mainly outward expansion. ④ The ecological space was squeezed by agricultural space and urban space, and the scale was constantly shrinking. The evolution speed of different types of ecological space was significantly different, with strong spatial heterogeneity and poor spatial balance.

  Conclusion  The contradiction between the “Three zones” in Shandong Province is more prominent, and the development of urban space encroaches agricultural space and ecological space, resulting in the fragmentation of agricultural space and the continuous reduction of ecological space, and the territorial spatial planning will further coordinate the relationship between the “Three zones” and promote the sustainable development of social economy and ecological environment.