After briefly describing the historical evolution, hydrological characteristics and storm surge disasters of the Huangpu River, the history and results of the study on the tidal sluice at the Huangpu River Estuary were reviewed, and the main future research interests were proposed. The results of the preliminary study show that the tidal sluice at the Huangpu River Estuary is an important part of the flood control capacity improvement scheme of the Huangpu River, and is an inevitable choice to solve the permanent flood (storm surge) control problems in Shanghai. The basic function of the sluice is to resist storm surge and adapt to navigation, and reasonable regulation of the sluice has a great effect on the extraordinary high level of the river basin caused by the combined action of flood and tide. The defense criterion of the designed tidal level of the sluice is based on the 1 000-year return period at the end of 100-year service. The total net width of the single hole of the sluice is greater than 300 m, which has little impact on flood discharge, navigation and river regime, and the siltation of the barrier chamber can be controlled. Key points of future research should be focused on the impact of the sluice built at the bend on the river regime and navigation, the impact of the closing time and frequency on the effect of storm surge control and navigation, the adaptability of the barrier type to the function, the closing time, the siltation of the river channel, and the impact of the span on the stress. Finally, since the flood control capacity of the middle and upper reaches of the Huangpu River cannot be completely improved by the sluice construction at the estuary, heightening and reinforcing the embankment is suggested simultaneously, and flood control emergency plans must be prepared before the two works completed.