Research Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and the driving mechanisms behind the spatial patterns of land use in economically developing river basins. Research Methods: The study employed geographic information systems, spatial autocorrelation techniques, and geographic detector methods to analyze the Hanjiang River Basin, focusing on the logical sequence of "evolution process - evolution pattern - driving mechanism" in land spatial changes. Research Findings: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the comprehensive change rates for urban, ecological, and agricultural spaces in the study area were 228%, -3%, and -1%, respectively. (2) The centroid of urban space shifted from southeast to northwest, while that of agricultural space moved from southwest to northeast. The centroid of ecological space initially shifted from northwest to southeast but then reversed. Univariate and bivariate clustering features exhibited similarities. (3) The outward migration of labor-intensive industries from the Pearl River Delta was identified as a significant factor driving the spatiotemporal evolution of land spatial patterns in the study area. Significance: This study supports the implementation of land spatial planning in economically developed regions and offers insights for coordinated development in less-developed river basins.