Objective To describe the time and space distribution of in-patients of a hospital, and combine the distribution with the hospital development. Methods Spatial orientation, spatial analysis, descriptive analysis and deductive analysis were used to make analysis of time and space evolution of in-patients of Shanghai First People’s Hospital. Results 1. On a national scale, the in-patients mainly distribute in the eastern provinces of China. The patient density has been growing up, of which the patient density of the Yangtze River Delta had been always the highest. From the scope of Shanghai, the in-patients of Shanghai First People’s Hospital mainly distributed in Songjiang District and the central area of Shanghai. While the density of patients of the central area declines, the density of patients in Baoshan District, Songjiang District and Pudong New Area rise up. 2. From the scope of Shanghai, the in-patients of the northern branch concentrate in the central area of Shanghai, and expand out of the central area, especially in the northeast regions. The density of patients in the Hongkou District has been the highest. The in-patients of the southern branch concentrate in the Songjiang District and central area of Shanghai and expand in the southwest areas. The growth rate of in-patients of the southern branch is higher than that of the northern branch. The distances between both the northern branch and southern branch and in-patients gradually enlarge. The distance between the southern branch and patients is farther than that between the northern branch and patients. Conclusion The factors influencing patient distribution include: population, health policy, development stage of hospital, hospital level and regional traffic conditions. GIS technology is an effective tool for understanding the possession and potential market of hospitals, and it will be great help to hospital managers to make decision.