Abstract: The coupling coordination between economic and ecological systems is essential for achieving regional sustainable development. Based on data from 2016 to 2022, this study constructs an evaluation index system for the economic and ecological systems in Yunnan Province. Using the comprehensive index method, coupling coordination degree model, obstacle degree model, and spatial visualization tools, we analyze the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of their coupling coordination and identify the main obstacle factors. The results show that: ① The comprehensive index of the economic system fluctuated but generally increased, with its standard deviation and coefficient of variation gradually decreasing, indicating an increasingly balanced development trend across regions. Most prefecture-level cities experienced a fluctuating increase in their economic development index, while a few （Dali and Dehong） saw a slight decline in their economic system index. Kunming, Yuxi, Qujing, and Dehong had prominent development advantages. ② The comprehensive index of the ecological system showed an overall slight downward trend, with the absolute and relative gaps among regions gradually widening, presenting non-equilibrium development characteristics. Ecological system development varied with time and location, with both "rising" and "falling" trends coexisting across regions during the study period. Diqing had a relatively high ecological system level, while Wenshan was relatively low. ③ The coupling coordination index between the economic and ecological systems fluctuated but generally showed a trend towards increasing coordination. However, the current level of coordinated development is not high, and high-quality coordination is still far from being achieved. Most cities saw a fluctuating increase in their coordinated development level, while a few cities saw a slight decline. Among them, Lijiang had the highest growth rate, Xishuangbanna the lowest; Dali had the largest decline, and Kunming the smallest. The absolute and relative gaps in coordinated development across regions gradually narrowed, showing an overall trend towards balanced development. During the study period, Kunming, Dehong, Yuxi, Qujing, Honghe, and Diqing generally maintained high levels of coordinated development. ④ Economic scale, economic efficiency, ecological response, and ecological status exerted strong hindering effects on the coupling coordination between Yunnan′s economic and ecological systems and appeared with high frequency.

Key words: