Abstract: The existing problems in the safety evaluation of tailing pond are pointed out, including the physical and mechanical tests on tailing materials, the generalized partitioning methods for physical and mechanical properties of deposited tailing materials, the constitutive models and the consolidation theories, the long-term performance evolution of drainage systems as well as the researches on the breaching process of tailing pond due to different disaster-induced factors. In this research, the reasons for the above problems are analyzed. Meanwhile, the key research direction of the safety evaluation of tailing pond in future is proposed as well.