Abstract: China is one of the countries where land desertification is serious.Government and local people have strengthened prevention and brought it under control,and scientists have enhanced research.Classifying the types of land desertification is an important theory problem.International scholars have done some researches and put forward some classification plans.Classification principle and system of land desertification is made by author according to author's research and drawing on the experience of others.Four types and thirteen subtypes are classified according to the dominant force and their appearance forms.Their distributions,features,formations etc.are briefly discussed.

Key words: land desertification, classification principle, classification system