Abstract: Processes of hydrological cycle and distribution of water resources have been changing significantly under the driving of climate changes. To fully understand runoff evolution mechanism under changing environment has become one of the hot and difficult issues in the field of hydrological research. In this study, state-of-the-art on related studies during the past decades has been reviewed and summarized, which includes major methodologies and progresses on the mechanism of runoff evolution, i.e., identification of runoff variation characteristics, attribution analysis of runoff changes, simulation of runoff under changing environment, and response of runoff to future climate change. Further studies are then emphasized considering those issues related to runoff evolution and its driving factors, identification of impact factors on runoff changes, as well as runoff simulation and uncertainty analysis, etc.