Abstract: It is in urgent need to understand the distribution and prevalence of parasitic infections of humans for the planning of a national program for disease control, A pilot study was made in Fanchang county, Anhui province, to get necessary experience.Six pilot sites were selected in the county according to different topography and socio-economic situation. Four methods, i. e. iodine direct smear, Kato-Katz thick smear, adhesive-tape technic and fecal culture were used. For Paragonimus infection, intradermal test was carried out, to be followed by sputum examination of cases with positive skin test.Of 3 127 persons from the sites examined, the overall parasitic infection rate was 90.6%. The percentages of cases infected by 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 kinds of parasites in the population were 24.5%, 29.7%, 20.4%, 3.9%, 0.5% and 0.03% respectively.The following species of protozoa, nematode, trematode and cestode were found in the population: Entameba histolytica, E. coli, Giardia lamblia; Ascaris lumbricoides, Tri-churis trichiura, Ancylostoma duodenale, Necator americanus, Enterobius vermicularis, Strongyloides stercoralis, Trichostrongylus sp.; Schistosoma japonicum, Fasciolopsis bus-ki, Paragonimus -westermani, Clonorchis sinensis, Heterophyid flukes, Echinostomatid. flukes and Hymenolepis diminuta. Among them, Giardia lamblia, Trichostrongylus sp. Heterophyid flukes and Echinostomatid flukes were reported for the first time in Anhui province.The pilot survey reveals that there are 17 species of parasites infecting humans and the prevalence of some infections is quite high in Fanchang, where the socio-economical development ranks medium in the country.