Spatial pattern is a reflection of the landscape heterogeneity over a region. Research on this pattern is a fundamental work in understanding the landscape structure, and has both theoretical and practical significance for exploring the composition and distribution laws of landscape components and their mechanisms. The key methods for realizing the spatial pattern include the comparison of pattern indices and spatial characteristics; the analysis of transition matrix of Markov Chain, and the dynamic simulation of spatial pattern based on cellular automata model. While these methods are proved to be usefull, the theoretical and technical framework has not yet been formed for the comprehensive research. The methods of quantitative ecology have been successfully used in vegetation pattern analysis on meso\ and mico\ scales. The integrated application of the methods in quantitative ecology and other modern techniques like GIS and RS might enrich the methodology of landscape study. In this study, based on the Grassland Type Map of Shanxi Province (1:500 000), Topography Map of Shanxi Province (1:500 000) and Administration Division Map of Shanxi Province (1:500 000), the Present Grassland Map of Shanxi Plateau (1:500 000) was compiled. Through the GIS techniques, 20mm×20 mm quadrat grids were set up on the Present Map, and then a set of 1127 effective quadrats was obtained. After the calculation of the importance values of individual quadrats, all the 1127 quadrats were analyzed using the quantitative methods of TWINSPAN (Two-Way Indicator Species Analysis) and DCA (Detrended Correspondence Analysis). The results showed that (1) the 31 association groups obtained from the TWINSPAN classification revealed the latitudinal zonality of grassland landscape in the plateau, i.e., the temperate grassland in the north, the shrub-grassland and grassland in the middle, and the warm temperate grassland in the south from 40°43'N to 34°34'N. (2) The vertical axis of DCA ordination plot indicated that, with the decrease in altitude from top to bottom, the grassland landscape changed gradually from the sub-alpine meadow to shrub-grassland, grassland and floodplain meadow; and the horizontal axis exhibited a clear water gradient, i.e., a gradual increase of wetness from left to right. The plots of DCA ordination for the quadrats of two dominant association groups and for the species of 44 dominant association groups reflected the gradient of rainfall and temperature changes, i.e., from the cold-arid conditions in the north-west to warm-wet conditions in the south-east across the plateau. This gradient of water-heat regime further influenced the spatial pattern of grassland landscape. (3) The integrated application of GIS technique and the methods of quantitative ecology could enrich the technical system of landscape ecology. The findings in this study suggest that either TWINSPAN or DCA was very useful for characterizing the distribution patterns of grassland landscape, and for exploring the possible causes of the patterns. The integrated application of GIS technique and quantitative techniques in ecology might have great potential for studies of landscape pattern dynamics, the drivers and the driving mechanisms. Further research on the dynamic characteristics and the driving factors of the grassland landscape in Shanxi Plateau should be conducted.