It is an urgent research problem to be solved how to realize the transformation upgrading of rural tourism at home and abroad. This paper is not only of great significance for the sustainable development of rural tourism in the mountainous area,southwestern China to promote regional economic and social harmony,but contributes a new way of research and opens up broad prospects for the transformation upgrading of rural tourism at home and abroad as well,mainly including: 1the spatial structural classifications and related characteristics of rural tourism; 2 the internal rule and evolutional trend of rural tourism; 3 the development frameworks and space- time patterns of rural tourism; 4 the development model of rural tourism; 5 the dynamic mechanism of rural tourism; and 6 the differential spatial control- management pattern of rural tourism.