Abstract:This paper selects the traditional settlements in Jiahu Lake area as the research object, through the research methods of field investigation, literature integration and image analysis, based on the analysis of water environment from the two scales of regional overall settlement distribution pattern and settlement unit landscape pattern, it is found that it has the characteristics of "settlement along the water, water changes with the settlement", and high connection between landscape node and water. It is found that the formation of landscape characteristics of traditional settlements in Jiahu Lake area is influenced by many factors, such as the adaptation to the low level water network environment, the promotion of water conservancy and water transportation, and the development of ideology, culture and industry.