Abstract: The 3 development phases of dam safety management in China are introduced.The analysis shows that the dam safety assurance system is being continuously strengthened;the dam safety management level has been substantially raised,the risk concept has been extensively accepted in China;and the daily increasing importance is being attached to the risk management techniques.During the gradual transition from the planned economy system to the market economy system,the dam safety management in China is still facing a great challenge:how to transit to the market economy mode,how to separate the functions of the government and the dam owners,and how to bring dam safety management into a route of favorable circulation.Some strategic considerations and suggestions are put forward to deal with the challenges in the management system,operation mechanism and the development of laws and regulations.