Due to remarkable width effect of riparian buffer on stagnating runoff,depositing sediment and controlling non-point source pollution,it is critical to determine its width.On the basis of the brief introducing international riparian buffer strips'policy and management methods,this paper not only overviews the determination methods of riparian buffer and their principles and parameters,including methods based on complex or simple mathematical models,and the other models and guides,but also comments on their advantages and disadvantages.Furthermore,this paper forecast the research prospect of riparian buffer strips in China.The methods of determining riparian buffer strips'width provide a reference for riparian ecosystem management,buffer strips planning and construction.