Understanding the interaction between land use and land surface temperature (LST) is essential for tackling the increasing problems of urbanization, environmental degradation, and climate change. This research explores the spatial and temporal patterns of Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) and their effect on LST in Henan Province, China, between 1990 and 2024, spanning 34 years. Using multi-temporal Landsat imagery, supervised classification using the Random Forest algorithm, and cloud-based processing in Google Earth Engine (GEE), we have mapped LULC changes and extracted LST values with high spatial resolution and temporal consistency. The findings indicate extensive land transformation, with urban areas increasing by more than 181%, mainly at the cost of cropland, which decreased by almost 11%. Concurrently, LST rose markedly, with maximum surface temperatures increasing from 43.2ºC to 51.3ºC. Built-up and barren land exhibited the highest mean LST values, while forests and water bodies consistently recorded cooler temperatures, highlighting the role of vegetative cover and hydrological features in mitigating surface heat. To quantify these relationships, Pearson correlation analysis was performed between the area of each LULC class and its corresponding LST. The results showed significant positive correlations between land built-up and LST (r>0.94), and significant negative correlations for cropland and forest cover (r<−0.95), affirming the urbanization- and land-degradation-related thermal amplification. The research establishes the pivotal relationship between LULC changes and surface thermal trends, providing an actionable geospatial model for environmental monitoring and land management. The incorporation of long-term satellite data with statistical correlation produces actionable information for policymakers, urban planners, and sustainability stakeholders. With Henan and much of the rest of the world continuing to urbanize rapidly, this study reinforces the need to balance development with ecological resilience to reduce increasing surface temperatures and their larger climate impacts.