Based　on　the　reconnaissance　of　buildings　in　Dujiangyan　City　during　2008　Wenchuan　earthquake,　China,　structural　damage　characteristics　and　the　spatial　distribution　of　structural　damage　are　investigated,　and　the　possible　reasons　for　the　extraordinary　features　are　discussed　with　consideration　of　the　influence　of　urban　historical　evolution　and　spatial　variation　of　earthquake　motions.　Firstly,　the　urban　plan　and　typical　characteristics　of　structural　seismic　damage　are　briefly　presented　and　summarized.　Spatial　distribution　of　structural　damage　is　then　comparatively　analyzed　by　classifying　all　surveyed　buildings　in　accordance　with　different　construction　age,　considering　the　influence　of　seismic　design　code　on　urban　buildings.　Finally,　the　influences　of　evolution　of　seismic　design　code,　topographic　condition,　local　site　and　distance　from　fault　rupture　on　spatial　distribution　of　structural　damage　are　comprehensively　discussed.　It　is　concluded　that　spatial　variation　of　earthquake　motions,　resulting　from　topography,　local　site　effect　and　fault　rupture,　are　very　important　factor　leading　to　the　extraordinary　spatial　distribution　of　building　damage　except　the　evolution　of　seismic　design　codes.　It　is　necessary　that　the　spatial　distribution　of　earthquake　motions　should　be　considered　in　seismic　design　of　structures　located　in　complicated　topography　area　and　near　active　faults.