Abstract: Objective To analyze the reporting ways of public health emergencies-communicable diseases outbreaks, and improve the capacity of early detection of communicable disease outbreak. Methods The questionnaire surveys and interviews were conducted in 6 provincial centers for disease control and prevention (CDCs), 12 municipal CDCs, 12 district CDCs and 12 county CDCs. Results It was found that 53.87% (425/789) of the outbreaks were detected through network direct reporting system at provincial level, totally 6.92% (62/896) of unusual disease trend developed as outbreaks, which accounted for 14.59% (62/425) of the outbreaks detected through network direct reporting. Up to 78.08% (114/146) of the outbreaks were detected through telephone report and 17.81% (26/146) through direct network reporting at municipal level, totally 4.56% (26/570)of unusual disease trend developed as outbreaks, which accounted for 100% (26/26) of the outbreaks detected through network direct reporting. Up to 65.15% (43/66) of the outbreaks were detected through telephone reporting, 33.33% (22/66) through network direct reporting at district and county level, totally 16.80% (21/125) of unusual disease trend developed as outbreaks, which accounted for 95.45% (21/22) of the outbreaks detected through network direct rreporting. Conclusion The CDCs at different levels obtained the information on public health emergency through different channels. It is necessary to develop and integrate surveillance technics to collect communicable disease informaation comprehensively and improve the capacity of early detection of communicable disease epidemic.