The remote sensing was used to delineate the glacier in the western Nyainqentanglha. The results showed the glacier area decreased by 193. 84km~2 from 1976 to 2011. It experienced a large - small - lager retreat patterm. The relative change rate in the SE was less than in the NW. The records of the four meteorological stations showed a pronounced temperature increasing,which was the main reason caused the retreat of the glaciers. The glacier retreat pattem was a product of temperature variations in different periods. The records of Damxung and Bangor meteorological stations showed the location had an important effect on the glacier retreat.