In this research, we mapped the glacier outlines from serial Landsat TM/ETM+ images in southern Tianshan Mountains by applying computer interpretation and visual interpretation in 1990,2000 and 2011. After constructing the glacier maps, the response of details of glaciers area variation to climate change in this region during the last 21 years were systematically analyzed by using GIS technology. The results showed that the glaciers had experienced a general shrinkage,the total glacier area decreased by 13. 2% from 1990 to 2011 in this area. The total area and numbers of small glaciers increased due to the large glaciers' disintegration. West facing glaciers shrank most, decreased by 15. 9%. The glaciers above 3 800 m shrank faster in recent decade compared with that in the period 19902000. By analyzing the ground meteorological data, we found the air temperature and precipitation in the southern Tianshan Mountains showed an increasing trend. Linear heating rate is 0. 25°C/10 a and precipitation increase rate is 1. 2 mm/a in the highest meteorological station Bayinbuluke. Finally, we found the intense shrinkage of glaciers area in southern Tianshan Mountains probably was driven by increasing temperature by making comparison with currently existed study from our research in westerlies zone,but the increasing precipitation contributed little to this trend. In addition, the topography and extent are significant factors on glacier fluctuation.