Abstract: Based on a summary of arrangement and practical operation of monitoring instruments at concrete face rock- fill dams, some primary problems were presented. Necessity ofmonitoring the void on concrete face of high damwas verified. Selection and arrangement direction of strain- gauge arrays, which were used to measure the stress of concrete face, were analyzed. The necessity of water- stopping operation and hind- joint water penetration monitoring for slab vertical joint was pointed out. Some monitoring methods in common use were compared systematically. And some important issues, which more attention should be paid on during the course of instrument setting, construction and monitoring, were emphasized at the same time.