Abstract: Objective To understand the performance of sentinel surveillance for hospitalized severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) in China, and provide scientific evidence for recent influenza activity estimation and influenza prevention and control. Methods The data about the proportion of SARI cases in total hospitalized patients and etiological detection reported though the sentinel surveillance system from 48th week 2016 to 1st week 2017 were analyzed. Results From 48th week 2016 to 1st week 2017, the proportions of SARI cases in total hospitalized patients and influenza virus positive detection rates increasedgradually in both southern China and northern China. The average SARI proportions in southern and northern China were 7.2% and 8.1% respectively, and the influenza virus positive detection rates all excessed 11.0%. Conclusion With the coming of winter in China, it is the 2016-2017 influenza season in both northern area and southern area in the country, and the influenza activity would gradually increase. It is necessary to strengthen the influenza surveillance and prevention and control of influenza.