Based on MODIS remote sensing images, surface water temperature data of the Taihu Lake from 2002 to 2020 were obtained. The study examined the spatial distribution characteristics of the Taihu Lake’s surface water temperature across different time scales, analyzed the variation trends of the lake’s surface water temperature and main hydro-meteorological factors, explored the abrupt change characteristics of each factor, and discussed the main driving factors of changes in the lake’s surface water temperature from a multi-time scale perspective. The results show that:the surface water temperature in Meiliang Bay, the western coast, the southern coast, and the central lake area exhibited a significant upward trend, while some areas of Gonghu Lake and East Taihu Lake showed a significant downward trend. The low-temperature areas of the Taihu Lake migrate regularly with seasons:from spring to autumn, the low-temperature areas move southward from the central lake area and gradually expand to Xu Lake and the southern coast of Taihu Lake, and migrate back to the central lake area in autumn and winter. The main driving factors for changes in Taihu Lake’s surface water temperature are near-surface air temperature, wind speed, and relative humidity. On the annual scale, the surface water temperature of Taihu Lake is mainly affected by near-surface air temperature and wind speed; in spring and summer, near-surface air temperature is the main driving factor for changes in the lake’s surface water temperature; in autumn, the main driving factors are near-surface air temperature and wind speed; in winter, changes in near-surface air temperature, wind speed, and relative humidity all have a significant impact on the lake’s surface water temperature.