The engineering geology of active tectonic zone is a difficult problem in engineering geology and geotechnical engineering for a long time. It mainly involves problems of surface rupture, tunnel seismic damage and slope geo- hazards caused by severe earthquakes, and abnormal stress of tunnels, large deformation of jointed rock zone, and the influence of long- term evolution of active fault on terrain landforms, slope rock mass structure and partial geostress field during non- seismic. Research on engineering geology related with active fault zone in domestic and foreign is briefly reviewed from fuzzy to gradually clear. The main progress in the active fault avoidance of surface engineering, the stability prediction and evaluation of tunnel through active fault zone, and geo- hazard effect of active fault zone are summarized. Combining with the authors’ previous research, it is considered that: ①The width of influence zone or avoiding distance is different with the type of active fault, the linear relationship D=10H+16.0 m between the width of influence zone (D) and vertical displacement (H) of reverse- fault surface rupture can be used to determine the avoidance distance , avoidance distance of strike- slip surface rupture should be 15 m. ②According to the railway alignment and construction process in complex and dangerous mountainous areas, it is given that the reasonable angle of tunnel engineering crossing active fault zone and the tunnel deformation and failure characteristics near active fault zone during earthquake and non- earthquake periods. ③The major manifestations of the geohazard effects of active faults zone are revealed in terms of the influence of active fault on terrain landforms, rock mass structure, collapse and landslide hazards induced by violent fault activity (earthquake), the effect of fault creep on slope stress field and stability, and the fact that fault activity provides a large number of material sources for the geohazard chain. Based on the above research progress and existing problems, the main research directions that deserve attention in the future are put forward, which has guiding significance for the research of engineering geological problems and disaster prevention and mitigation in active tectonic zone.