Abstract: The coastline of the Yellow River Delta (YRD) was monitored based on the coastlines extracted by the general high-tide line method with the techniques of remote sensing and geographic information system and the data source from multi-spectral scanner, thematic mapper, and enhanced thematic mapper + images of the YRD from 1976 to 2014. The results demonstrated that the shape and length of the YRD coastline had changed dramatically since 1976. It shows that the coastline in Diaokou course demonstrates mostly an inland erosion in the north due to primarily a marine erosion and it is an erosion-type estuary. However, the coastline of the Qingshuigou course was pushed seaward demonstrating an accretion stage and thus it is an accretion-type estuary. The YRD coastline changes frequently and rapidly. The mouth channel, the water and sediments, and the precipitation are the major factors affecting the YRD. The YRD coastline is mainly in an accretion stage during the water running period. The erosion rate decreases and tends to be stable on the dry course. The coastline is basically stable when the course had been dried for a long time. The development of the YRD is increasingly affected by human activities in recent years.