To reveal the temporal and spatial distribution and characteristics of the transformation and evolution of rocky desertification in karst mountains in Southwest China since the late 1950s, this paper uses bibliometric analysis methods to analyze the total amount of literature related to rocky desertification and the subject terms. Extracting information on the time, type, degree, and driving factors of rocky desertification evolution in the literature, we comprehensively analyze the evolution trend and spatial distribution of rocky desertification in karst mountains in Southwest China at county (city) scale and conduct typical case studies. Studies show that since the late 1950s, the evolution of rocky desertification in the karst mountains in Southwest China has transformed from severe rocky desertification caused by the natural foundation and man-made destruction to various human disturbances and comprehensive management, and the process from high-grade rocky desertification to low-grade rocky desertification. On this basis, the paper considers that there is a phenomenon of transition from expansion to contraction of rocky desertification, and discusses the driving mechanism and enlightenment of its transformation, to provide a reference for the ecological construction in karst mountains in the era of rural revitalization.