[Objective] By exploring the links between carbon emissions and economic development in Yantai City from 2000 to 2011, and to provide the reference on carbon emission reduction and developing low-carbon economy in this city.[Methods] Based on the theoretical framework and estimation model of land-use changes, carbon emissions in Yantai City were calculated through data analysis of its land use types and energy consumption. Then the relationship of them with respect to decoupling elasticity was analyzed by the use of the Tapio Decoupling model.[Results] (1) Construction land is the major carbon source in Yantai City, and the relationship between construction land area and the net carbon emissions presented an inverted U-shaped Kuznets curve. (2) Forest is the major carbon sink, and other land use types with less effect, are mainly regarded as carbon sinks. (3) Though the carbon emissions in Yantai City showed a continual increasing trend from 2000 to 2011, the increasing rate declined consistently.[Conclusion] The work of carbon emission reduction in Yantai City had achieved some success, but it is still under great pressure. The economic development in Yantai City can be divided into three stages according to the analysis of Tapio Decoupling model. The three stages are the connected phase, Decoupled stage Ⅰ and Decoupled stage Ⅱ, in corresponding to highest rate phase, higher rate phase and stabilized phase of carbon emissions in Yantai City, respectively.