In the Tarim River Basin, rapid development of social economy had lead to huge expansion of artificial oases and continuous shrinking of natural oases. It is of great scientific and practical significance to ensure the ecological safety and social prosperity and stability of oasis by realizing the coordinated and sustainable development of natural and artificial oases. According to the different Topographic and Geomorphic conditions and the main factors restricting oasis development, and combined with field investigation, this study divided the nine source stream and the main stream of the Tarim River Basin into three distribution patterns. Three typical river basins were chosen to analyze the artificial oasis expansion and natural oasis shrinking process in the last 20 years. Based on the principle of water balance, the quantitative relationship between artificial and natural oasis transformation and the disappearance and decline area of natural vegetation after 1 × 108 m3 water was consumed by artificial oasis. The suitable area proportion of the artificial and natural oasis of different oasis distribution patterns was put forward. This study provides theoretical support and scientific basis for the comprehensive management of the Tarim River Basin. The main conclusions are stated as follows:(1) Nine sources streams and main stream were divided into inland river desert area pattern, alluvial-proluvial fan pattern and main stream pattern. The Hotan River Basin, Keriya River Basin and Qarqan River Basin belong to inland river desert area pattern; the Weigan-Kuche River Basin, Dina River Basin, Kaidu-Kongque River Basin and Aksu River Basin belong to alluvial-proluvial fan pattern; the middle reach of the Tarim River, Yarkant River Basin and Kashgar River Basin belong to main stream pattern.(2)The total oasis areas of the representative river basins had no clear change, but the area proportion of artificial and natural oasis increased. The area proportions of artificial and natural oasis in the Weigan-Kuche River Basin were 3:7, 5:5 and 6:4 in 1990, 2000 and 2010 respectively. The area proportion of artificial and natural oasis in the Keriya River Basin was 3:7 in both 1990 and 2000, and in 2010 the proportion increased to 4:6. The area proportions of artificial and natural oasis in the Yarkant River Basin were 4:6, 5:5 and 6:4 in 1990, 2000 and 2010 respectively.(3) Cultivated land expansion not only lead to the gradual exsciccation of natural vegetation, but also lead to a larger area of natural vegetation decline. The area proportions of cultivated land expansion and declining and dying Populus euphratica are 1:3.6 and 1:32.7, respectively. (4) The appropriate artificial and natural oases area proportioning of inland river desert area pattern should be between 3:7 to 4:6. The appropriate artificial and natural oases area proportioning of alluvial-proluvial fan pattern should be between 4:6 to 5:5. The appropriate artificial and natural oases area proportioning of main stream pattern should be strictly controlled not more than 4:6
