Study of vegetation gross primary production (GPP) is important for research of terrestrial ecosystems and global climate change. We used MODIS GPP products, land cover type data and meteorological data during 2000 to 2013 to analyze the spatial-temporal changes in GPP and the relation with climatic factors (air temperature and precipitation) in the Poyang Lake basin. The mean annual GPP was 1 361 gC·m~(-2)·a~(-1) (range from 88 to 2 493 gC·m~(-2)·a~(-1)). GPP in 2002 had the lowest mean value and in 2004 the largest. With respect to spatial distribution, GPP values showed a radiative increasing trend pattern, from the center to peripheral areas of the lake valley. The area with obvious GPP increase accounted for 40%, mainly in the northeast of the study region. Correlation analysis showed that air temperature had greater effect than precipitation on changes in annual GPP. As well, fires had some impact on GPP. This study was useful for providing a basis to understand the vegetative growth and monitoring the ecological environment in the Poyang Lake basin.