Abstract: Dam construction usually over-looked the environmental impacts,disregarded social problems,and overestimated economic payoffs.The authors reviewed the latest world dam research and the main themes,looked into the current development and problems of China’s dam construction:the dam rush in western China,the declining ecosystem due to the accomplished projects over the Yangtzi River,the blanking of the Yellow River,and the deteriorating quality of water in the Huai River,and provided some insightful thinking on China’s dam construction in the principle of scientific development.