The differences of spatial-temporal distribution patterns and dominant driving factors of vegetation evolution in different regions and different historical periods were not clearly. Therefore, this study introduced the gravity center model and geodetector to analyze the spatial-temporal change characteristics and dominant driving factors of vegetation NDVI in China during 1981-2019 from the perspective of geographic divisions. Results showed that: (1) During 1981-2019, the average vegetation coverage in China, as a whole, showed an increasing trend and zones with obviously increasing vegetation NDVI were mainly distributed in the middle reaches of the Yellow River basin and the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. (2) During 1981-2019, the gravity centers of vegetation NDVI, nationally, were mainly concentrated in Yan'an City and Tongchuan City, showing a southward migration trend as a whole, which indicates that the increment and growth rates of the southern were greater than those of the northern part. (3) The growth of vegetation in southern China was primarily affected by temperature, while that of northern China was largely influenced by precipitation. (4) Specific factors, including land use, precipitation and soil types exerted significant influences on the vegetation NDVI, and their interaction could enhance the influence of single factor.