Hydrological experimental areas(catchments)in plains provide a base for conducting the field experiments, exploring the formation and physical mechanism of the hydrographic phenomenon, and studying the relevant methods. Abundant achievements have been obtained and many problems arose in the construction and research during the 60-year tortuous development. This paper reviewed the development history and current situation of hydrological experimental areascatchments)in plains in China and abroad. Besides some main achievements, general historic problems during the establishment of experimental areas(catchments)in plains were revealed and a few meaningful lessons were drawn from the past. Additionally, we took the experimental research work in the plain of Taihu Lake Basin as an example and introduced the particular research goals as well as the related establishing process. We hope that it can provide a reference for the newly-building, recovering and extending of the hydrological experimental area in plains in the future.