Abstract: Based on the panel data of 136 districts and counties in the Yellow River basin in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014, the coupling coordination level and influencing factors are analyzed using entropy TOPSIS analysis, coupling coordination degree model and geographic probe model. The results show that:① The trend of coupling coordination between socio-economic development and ecological environment quality in the Yellow River basin during the study period is in a "U" shape curve, and is generally in a highly coupled low-level coordination stage. The trend of inter-regional variation is an inverted "U" curve. From the relative development model, the quality of rural ecological environment lags behind from 2010 to 2014. ② The spatial pattern is characterized by significant spatial divergence, and the distribution pattern of coupling coordination is "upstream > midstream > downstream". ③ Natural environmental factors are the dominant factors influencing the spatial divergence of coupled coordination, followed by socioeconomic factors. Among them, rural population density, annual average PM_2.5 concentration, per capita arable land area, topographic relief, elevation and annual average temperature are the main factors, and the interaction of the two factors is significantly greater than the influence of a single factor. Based on this, it is suggested that the Yellow River basin should be guided by the concept of coordinated development, focusing on improving the protection and restoration of ecological environment and adopting differentiated and characteristic development strategies, with a view to achieving ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River basin at an early date.

Key words: Yellow River basin, socio-economic development, ecological and environmental quality, coupling and coordination, geographic probe