Abstract: Various corrosions and defects possibly emerged in Atmospheric storage tanks(AST) were summarized, and the effective nondestructive testing(NDT) methods according to damage mechanisms and modes of failure were also put forward, included visual testing, thickness measuring, magnetic particle testing, penetration testing, radiographic and ultrasonic testing, magnetic flux leakage, acoustic emission testing, vacuum testing and evaluation of tank bottom settlement. The application situation and characteristic of each NDT method applied in AST were also introduced.