The characteristics and connotations of surveys designed to protect objects of architectural heritage are discussed. Based on actual cases, four basic characteristics of architectural heritage protection needs are identified. The first is the completeness and accuracy of the survey, as well as the authenticity of architectural heritage; second, analysis of the mechanism, damage and numerical simulation to verify the cause of the damage; third, study of the seismic performance of cultural relics; and fourth, the minimal intervention to get the real situation is emphasized.The importance and necessity of establishing a cultural system for disaster prevention and reduction are demonstrated,and the inevitable relations between the system of disaster prevention and reduction and the future direction of development of survey and design of architectural heritage are pointed out with longterm development as the technical support under the system.