Although　many　studies　have　been　made　on　urban　land　use　change,　most　of　them　focus　on　a　specific　aspect　(e.g.,　landscape　or　policy)　with　fewer　considerations　of　spatiotemporal　dynamics　of　urban　sprawl.　In　this　study,　we　explored　the　urban　sprawl　process　in　Beijing　over　the　past　three　decades　(1984-2013)　on　an　annual　basis　by　linking　spatial　metrics　and　landscape　networks　to　trace　the　dynamics　of　urban　patches.　First,　we　identified　six　main　growth　periods　of　urban　expansion　with　different　patterns,　through　a　relatively　comprehensive　change　analysis　of　different　landscape　matrix.　Second,　we　used　the　urban　landscape　network　to　explain　the　spatiotemporal　dynamics　of　urban　patches,　with　a　linkage　to　policies　(or　planning)　behind　each　hotspot　of　urban　expansion.　We　found　the　major　trajectory　of　urban　growth　in　Beijing　started　from　the　northern　and　southern　parts　of　the　central　built-up　region　to　its　southeast　side,　which　is　different　from　the　planned　two　axes　(i.e.　horizontal　and　vertical)　along　the　core　area　of　the　city.　Our　results　indicated　that　urban　expansion　is　highly　uneven　both　in　time　and　space,　which　relies　on　more　satellite　observations　for　a　better　understanding　of　this　process.　Also,　the　identified　urban　growth　periods　and　patterns　are　valuable　to　the　development　of　urban　sprawl　model.