中文摘要：

在回顾和分析小流域／实验小流域相关概念和内涵的基础上，对国内外实验小流域的发展历程、研究现状进行了综述。对中国现存及历史时期存在过的实验小流域做了统计，依流域概念、研究内容进行分类，并对国内外的实验小流域研究做了比较。在此基础上，针对目前实验小流域研究中存在的不足之处，对未来相关研究提出了建议，以期对中国未来的实验小流域研究有所启示。

英文摘要：

Based on the review and analysis of the conceptions and connotations of small catchments and experimental catchments, this paper overviewed the development history and research situations of experimental catch- ments in China and abroad. Survey, measurement and relevant researches at experimental catchments in the world began in the 1930s, and underwent rapid development since the International Hydrological Decade （1965-1974）, focusing on the following aspects： hydrological cycling, watershed environment, soil erosion and sediment transportation. In China, small catchment study began in the 1950s, and underwent three development stages of ＇ golden stage （1956-1966）＇, ＇backward stage （1966-1978）＇ and ＇ stagnant stage （1978-2006）＇. It gets new impetus since 2006 with more funds from the research institutes, universities, and central and local govern- ments. The existent and ever-existed experimental catchments in China have been tabulated according to their main characteristics, research focuses and brief history. Data continuity, systematicity and observation standard at experimental catchment scale have been compared briefly between China and the developed countries, indicat- ing that China is still far behind these developed countries. Further development in experimental catchment in China has been proposed so as to strengthen the comparison study between varied climatic and geographical conditions, and to set up national rules or standards for hydrological observation.