Abstract: This paper aims at exploringspatial association and spatial difference of the internal economic development in the contiguous poor mountainous areas in western China.It analyzes the driving force for economic development from the perspective of economic geography,providing reference for scientific decision-making to avoid a new round of pauperization.Using geo-statistical analysis tools of GeODA and ArcGIS9.3,general and partial spatial distribution of economic development in 26 districts and counties in the Three Gorges Reservoir Areas from 1997 to 2009 is analyzed.The result indicates that in general distribution,the fitted value of economic development in is in U type,showing a down-up tendency from the west to east and a gradually increasing tendency from the north to south;and in partial distribution,the economic development shows a tendency of increasing positive correlation property.Finally,a series of policy are put forward based on the case study of economic development in the Three Gorges Reservoir Areas.

Key words: the Three Gorges Reservoir Areas, the contiguous poor mountainous areas in western China, economic development, geo-statistical analysis, spatial analysis