Abstract: Descriptions were made of the mechanism of creeping wave generation. To solve the problem encountered in the surface and near-surface defect inspection of butt welded joint of thin wall power transmission line steel tubular tower, creeping wave testing was used. In this paper, the test technique and its experimental verification are mainly described. The verification results showed that defect on the surface and near-surface of the butt welded joint can be determined effectively. Creeping wave testing has a bright application future in nondestructive testing field.