Revealing　the　evolutionary　characteristics　of　rural　settlements　and　the　influencing　mechanism　bears　significant　implications　for　rural　restructuring　and　revitalization.　However,　existing　studies　have　paid　inadequate　attention　to　the　farming-pastoral　ecotone,　with　a　limited　exploration　of　the　influencing　mechanism　from　a　productionliving-ecology　perspective.　Taking　Wuchuan　County　as　a　case,　this　paper　reveals　that　the　evolution　of　rural　settlements　is　slow　and　the　overall　area　of　rural　settlements　decreases　slightly.　This　is　attributed　to　severe　rural　population　loss　and　the　challenges　in　rural　homesteads　withdrawal,　stemming　from　the　prevalent　phenomenon　of　rural-urban　circular　migration　driven　by　the　villagers　＇　pursuit　of　a　better　life.　The　conversion　scale　between　rural　settlements　and　non-irrigated　farmland　is　larger　than　that　between　rural　settlements　and　other　land,　and　the　rural　settlements　exhibit　an　expansion　trend　in　urban　fringe　due　to　the　ecological　relocation　projects　carried　by　local　government.　Random　distribution　of　rural　settlements　in　the　farming-pastoral　ecotone　occurs　as　a　result　of　the　huge　per　capita　land　area　coupled　with　the　proximity　of　agricultural　cultivation　and　grazing.　Although　the　spatial　pattern　of　rural　settlements　in　some　villages　has　evolved　towards　clustered　distribution,　the　issue　of　dispersed　distribution　of　rural　settlements　remains　prominent.　The　evolutionary　states　of　rural　settlements　are　jointly　influenced　by　production　convenience　of　agriculture　and　animal　husbandry,　living　needs　of　education,　medical　care　and　transportation,　and　ecological　environment.　Given　that　the　irrational　states　produce　negative　impacts　on　the　rural　production-living-ecology　coordinated　development,　the　proactive　responses　from　policy　makers　are　imperative　to　guide　the　evolution　of　rural　settlements　towards　enhanced　production　efficiency,　improved　living　standards　and　ecological　aesthetics.　This　study　contributes　to　uncovering　the　specific　characteristics　of　rural　settlements　＇　evolution　within　the　farming-pastoral　ecotone　and　introduces　a　novel　analytical　framework　for　understanding　its　influencing　mechanism.　It　provides　a　scientific　guidance　for　optimizing　rural　settlements.