Each nationality has formed unique ethnic culture in the long history. Ethnic culture is spatially reflected by ethnic distribution. The distribution of nationalities is influenced by ethnic history, culture, society and religion, also affected by regional physical setting. This paper analyzes the relationship between ethnic distribution patt and natural setting with contrast analytical method. The digital elevation model (DEM) is established on basis of contour map on a scale of 1:250,000 in the Nujiang River basin, Yunnan Province by ArcGIS, a Geographic Information System (GIS) software. Based on DEM, the spatial analysis and statistical function of GIS, the landscape patts of population distribution of the selected minorities is described, and 4 sub-regions are divided in the Nujiang River basin of Yunnan Province while the features and disparity of landscape patt and its forming mechanism are discussed, along with historical and archaeological data. The conclusions are as follow: (1) The ethnic distribution is mosaic in the matrix of other racial distribution, and have a distinct spatial correlation. (2) For the difference in cultivation between different nationalities, certain nationality lived in the area suitable for production mode of its own and coincident with appropriate geographical setting. (3) The spatial distribution of settlement spots of the minorities is controlled by the convenience of water supply. The landscape patt of ethnic distribution is closely relative to natural environment.