Hydrological experiment is the prerequisite and foundation of hydrological science. Since the 1990s, the reform of system of science and technology and other reasons resulted in hydrological experimental work shrinking even stagnation, which formed a great contrast with the rapid economic and social development. Status quo of the hydrological experiment work was analyzed in this paper. It illustrates the higher requests to the hydrological experiment research work under the new situation, planning principles of hydrological experiment stations, development prospect of experimental research in hydrology.