Exploration engineering is an important technical method for geological resource exploration and earth geo-scientific research， which is the sole mean to get sample from the underground. No matter deposit exploration， evaluation and the exploration & utilization of new energy resource， or the crust exploration project， technology of exploration engineering is necessary. Preliminary discussion was made on the main function and mission of current geological work， the function and the position of exploration engineering and the development trend and research orientation with the hope to change ‘science superior to technique’ in geological community in China.