Abstract: The STD surveillance in China had experienced three stages during 8 years period (1987-1994):1.Tried to set up an STD casereportsystem (passive surveillance)system;2. The national case report system was established ; 3. An STD sentinel surveillance system was estab- lished. The experiences demonstrated that the data of sentinel surveillance were an important sup- plement to the case report imformation in whole coutry. For the purose of saving the limited re- sources ,getting the trends of STD epidemic and a rapid epidemiological assessment as a basis for STD control programme , the sentinel surveillance system should be improved. The advantages and limitations of the surveillance system were discussed .