Abstract: Pastoral complex (PC) is one of important ways to pursue the rural vitalization in China. Based on dissipative structure theory, by using inductive method and comprehensive analysis method, the present study examined problems in PC construction and proposed corresponding countermeasures and suggestions according to the data of 19 national PC pilot projects. It was shown that PC had basic features of dissipative structures. The over-tourism development, destruction of ecological environment, lack of cultural creativity, unclear policies, and dispersion power of stakeholders were the main factors affecting PC. The key to the development of PC was to adopt the strategy of "controlling the internal entropy and increasing negentropy". Specifically, the increase of internal entropy should be controlled from three aspects of ensuring the development of high-quality agriculture, protecting ecological environment and culture, and negative entropy flow should be input in five aspects of matching supply with demand of industrial development, increasing budgetary input in technology, deepening cultural creativity, expanding support for policy and establishing a benefit sharing mechanism.

Key words: pastoral complex, dissipative structure, entropy, pilot project, rural vitalization