Based on spatial data originating respectively from the TM satellite images of 1984, 1995, 2000 and 2003, a multi time phase successive comparison study was conducted on urbanization and city sprawl in the Nanjing region using RS and GIS techniques.Meanwhile, impacts of city sprawl on the regional soil resources were analyzed based on data from the digital soil map of the city, files of the second nat ional soil survey and supplementary investigations.Results obtained in the study indicate that the urban area of the city increased very fast in the past two decades, suggesting a rapid regional urbanization process.The total built up area of the city increased by nearly 100% during the period from 1984 to 2003.As a result of the rapid urbaniza tion, the soil resources of Nanjing reduced by 7.4% in acreage.Especially, the soil resources with high productivity and favor able facilities in the suburbs were decreasing much faster because of their close contiguity to the expanding city.Finally, it might be concluded that rapid urbanization was posing an increasing pressure on soil resources, of which the impact on regional agricul tural production and food security allows no neglect.