Abstract: The unique natural and human environment in southwestern China has created a large number of "Chinese traditional villages". In order to understand the distribution and causes of traditional villages in Southwest China, the geographic information system (ArcGIS) was used to analyze the spatial distribution characteristics of traditional villages in different time sections in Southwest China. At the same time, combined with spatial statistical analysis software (GeoDa) and geo-detector tools, a variety of impact indicators are integrated to analyze the causes of the spatial distribution of traditional villages in Southwest China. The results show that: (1) The traditional villages in the southwestern region have obvious regional spatial distribution imbalance. The spatial distribution of traditional villages in different periods showed a clear agglomeration distribution, and the aggregate core remained unchanged. In the overall spatial structure, the traditional villages in the southwestern region have a spatial structure development model of "single-core aggregation—single-core multi-point mesh layout". (2) By analyzing the influence degree of multiple index factors on the spatial distribution of traditional villages in Southwest China, it is found that the elevation and topographic relief of natural factors have the greatest impact on the spatial distribution of traditional villages. The traditional villages with medium and high altitudes with large terrain fluctuations and rugged terrain are most concentrated. In contrast, human factors have less impact on the spatial distribution of traditional villages in the Southwest. Under the background of rural revitalization, the protection and utilization of traditional villages in Southwest China will have important practical significance.