Since the founding of new China, the status of tuberculosis (TB) has been greatly improved through effective control measures and application of research achievements. In the early 1950s, more than 90% of adults in Shanghai and Tianjin had been infected. Tuberculosis ranked the first among the leading causes of death in big cities and the mortality rate reached 169-259/100000 in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou and Hangzhou. The estimated prevalence of tuberculosis in the urban area (3500/100000) was higher than that in the countryside (1500/100000). Since the founding of new China, the status of tuberculosis (TB) has been greatly improved through effective control measures and application of research achievements. In the early 1950s, more than 90% of adults in Shanghai and Tianjin had been infected. Tuberculosis ranked the first among the leading causes of death in big cities and the mortality rate reached 169-259 / 100000 in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou and Hangzhou. The estimated prevalence of tuberculosis in the urban area (3500/100000) was higher than that in the countryside (1500/100000).