Major function division provides an effective method to regulate and optimize the spatial sequences and patterns of land exploitation and economic development, which is applied to divide a region into several different functional areas. Using the major function division method, the spatial development pattern of northern Pudong, an important economic center of China, was demonstrated in this paper. According to the technical methods put forward by National Development and Reform Commission, an index system based on local regional characteristics was established. And the spatial distribution of the data of each indicator was obtained by grid analysis and spatial analysis, using GIS software. The primary division scheme was formed by 2 bottom-up methods and then modified by 2 top-down methods. As a result, northern Pudong New Area was divided into 5 types of major function area: a) the natural conservation area, b) the restricted area, c) the optimized and promoted development area, d) the optimized and harmonized development area and e) the optimized and exploited development area. This study indicated that northern Pudong New Area faced severe resource and environmental pressures with the rapid economic development in the past decades, and the industrial structure and spatial layout should be modified in the future planning.