Abstract: Characterized by its complex and diverse topography and complete vertical vegetation zonation, the Liqiu River Basin serves as a typical region for studying ecological patterns and watershed conservation in the Yalong River and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Based on a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and 2022 vegetation landscape data, this study integrated GIS spatial analysis with Fragstats landscape metrics to reveal the topographic gradient effects on the spatial distribution of vegetation landscapes and the characteristics of landscape patterns in the upper, middle, and lower reaches of the basin. The results indicate that: (1) Vegetation distribution exhibits significant topographic gradient differentiation: forests are concentrated within the 3000～4000 m elevation range, showing a significant positive correlation with slope and the highest proportion on shady slopes; the area proportion of alpine evergreen shrubs increases with both slope and aspect gradients; alpine grasslands are primarily distributed on gentle slopes and sunny aspects within 3500～4500 m; and the proportion of unutilized land increases with rising elevation and slope. (2) The watershed landscape pattern shows distinct longitudinal differentiation: the upper reaches exhibit the highest landscape fragmentation and aggregation; the middle reaches display the strongest landscape connectivity; the lower reaches feature the most complex patch shapes and the highest evenness and diversity, yet with weaker overall landscape connectivity. Based on these findings, differentiated watershed zoning conservation strategies are proposed: prioritizing wetland–grassland ecosystem conservation in the upper reaches, constructing shrub–wetland ecological corridors in the middle reaches, and enhancing forest integrity maintenance and biodiversity conservation in the lower reaches. The research results can provide valuable references for watershed ecological conservation and spatial regulation in the Yalong River and even the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region.