Abstract: Objective To evaluate the surveillance technique and scheme of rodent plague in Yunnan province, provide scientific evidence for the revision of surveillance method and model and the improvement of plague surveillance and emergency response. Methods The rat density survey was conducted in 48 surveillance points (fixed or mobile) in 6 counties randomly selected. Field evaluation was done on the performance of the surveillance. Results The average rat density at fixed points was 2.32%, the average rat density at mobile points was 7.35% for vegetable land and farmland and 5.01% for woodland respectively. The average annual expenditure on the surveillance was 29 089 yuan. The plague laboratories in some counties had not met the requirement for bio-safety Ⅱ, and the emergency response equipment level varied. Conclusion It is necessary to revise the plague surveillance sachem, increase the financial investment according to the actual need to improve the surveillance efficiency and provide reliable data for the epidemic analysis and prevention/treatment of plague.