By using the decision tree classification and visual interpretation methods, we investigated the glacier area and terminal changes over the eastern Nyainqentanglha range of Star glacier,Maguo lung glacier, Ruoguo glacier, Jiang and Putin glacier and the dragon glacier during 19702011,and analyzed the relationship between glacier shrinkage and climate change. The results showed that the total lost area was 216. 52 km2 from 1970 to 2011. The rate of retreating differed over different time intervals. The first period(19701999) was greater than the second period (19992011). The records of Dingqing meteorological stations showed a pronounced precipitation increase,which mainly caused the deceleration of the shrinking. Furthermore, the altitude played an important role in glacier retreat. The elevation of Jiang and Putin glacier was the lowest(3 179 m) with the highest retreating rate (1. 75 km2/a). Star glacier was just opposite. According to the records of temperature and precipitation, the glacier retreat will be accelerated in the next ten years in this region.