Since the implementation of reform and opening up policy in 1978, the combined effects of cross-border cooperation, population movement and urbanization in the border areas have exacerbated land-use conflicts. Border areas are facing the unbalanced development in terms of the differences in geostrategic environments, resource endowments, and economic development. With an aim to achieve the optimal allocation of regional territorial resources and balanced development, it is crucial that the laws of spatial differences in territorial spatial evolution and its driving mechanisms under different development gradients can be scientifically identified. Using 45 border areas in China as examples, this study analyzed the evolution process and influencing factors of the "production-living-open-ecological" space by applying models such as territorial spatial dynamics, land-use transfer matrix and geodetector. The results showed that: (1) From 1980 to 2020, the production, living and open space in Chinese border areas expanded while the ecological space shrank. The structure of "one belt, three zones and multiple points" revealed the dramatic pattern. Given that the spatial composition of the border areas is dominated by the terrestrial ecological space composed of mountains, rivers and potential ecological space, the border zone holds tremendous value and potential including the ecological value and the service capacity. (2) The conflicts of territorial space in the border areas mainly occurred during the urbanization and opening to the outside world when the population and industrial agglomeration promote the mutual transformation, competition and integration between different spaces. The conversion type of territorial space was mainly the interconversion of production space, open space and ecological space. Consequently, the conflicts would lead to the increasingly significant regional differences. (3) The driving factors affecting different territorial spatial changes have varying effects, with economic dynamics and opening to the outside world being the main influencing factors for territorial spatial evolution in the border areas. Therefore, the relevant government departments from the border areas should comprehensively consider the characteristics of different regions, leverage their geographic advantages, and formulate differentiated zoning and regulatory strategies to promote the efficient utilization of territorial space and achieve the high-quality regional development.