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Plant diversity monitoring is an important basis for species conservation and vegetation landscape planning, and it is of great significance for the implementation of priority area protection for biodiversity. Taking the main urban area of Haikou City as an example, we analyzed the correlation between vegetation index and the plant diversity index by applying remote sensing data from Landsat 8 and measured data in site, and then built the mathematical model of remote sensing monitoring for plant diversity and screened out the optimal model that is used to monitoring the spatial distribution of plant diversity in the study region. The results were as follows: Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Simpson diversity index and Pielou evenness index had the highest correlation coefficient with MSAVI vegetation index, with significant correlation(P<0.01). The spatial distribution of plant diversity in Haikou acquired from the unitary linear regression model was consistent with the actual situation. The areas with higher plant diversities were mainly distributed in the volcanic crater, Dongzhai harbor and Yangshan wetland, which had obvious spatial self-correlation. According to results obtained from this research, continual implementation of strict conservation measures, enhancement of ecological restoration and conservation projects, and improvement of vegetation coverage and biodiversity are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]