This paper surnmarizes the historical experiences in venereal disease control in China during the 1950s.Venereal diseases had been all but eliminated in the whole country till 1964. However

along with the implementation of open-door policy and economic reform in the 1980s

the social environment was changed to a great extent in this country. Sexually transmitted diseases （STDs） were reintreduced in the Chinese mainland and new foci of infection established themselves in some cities. During the recent 8 years the national STD case-reporting and sentinel surveillance systems have been set up. The results of surveillance show that the annual incidence of STD has been on the increase. The existing factors associated with the increasing incidence of STD mainly are ; population movement

increasing affiuence in a part of population

the availability of multiple sexual partners （including the prostitution）and asymptomatic STD increased.Finally

the strategies for STD control are discussed in detail.