The purpose of this study is to investigate changes in sedimentary environments in Lake Dianchi, a shallow water lake on the Yun-Gui Plateau. Overall characteristics of organic matter values, including δ¹³Corg, δ¹³N, C/N and TOC, from a 63cm-long core from the center of the lake were analyzed. Concentrations and stable carbon isotopic compositions of the bound fatty acids are also analyzed and compared with those of the corresponding free fatty acids. The results indicate that the past environment changes recorded in the modern sediments in Lake Dianchi can be divided into three main stages. Values of δ¹³N and TOC increased during the latest stage of the 0-20cm interval and were related with the eutrophication process of the Lake Dianchi, when concentrations ofbound fatty acids and free fatty acids range from 38.5-209.6μg/g and 12.0-318.1μg/g, respectively. Compared to free fatty acids, bound fatty acids in the sediments of Lake Dianchi have more abundant unsaturated fatty acids, iso- and anteiso-branched fatty acids, indicating that they predominantly sourced from the plankton and bacteria and were more resistant to the early chemical and biological degradation. Multiplying of the plankton and bacteria caused the speeding up the lake eutrophication processes. Changes in the δ¹³C value of the bound nC16:0 fatty acid were recorded well in Lake Dianchi sediments and provided good information of the enhancement of lake eutrophication in the recent few decades. Therefore, it will become an important indicator reflecting the lake hyper-eutrophication.