Adit exploration is a technical method to obtain the geological parameters of the region around the mountain and comprehensively understand the geology in survey for water conservancy and hydropower works. In the exploration work, the first goal is to find out the engineering geological conditions or special geological problems for the works, such as fault, interlayer, etc, and carry out in-situ tests. Therefore, adit exploration and construction technology occupies a very important position in important engineering investigation. How to speed up the construction progress, shorten the construction period and solve the problems in adit construction is the main research focus in this field. At present, construction technology and excavation equipment for the adit has advanced to a certain extent, but the research and related special equipment is still in the initial stage. This paper mainly discusses the advances in adit construction technology and equipment, and analyzes their characteristics and limitations by comparison of the comprehensive performance of different construction methods. Discussion is also made on the actual problems in the development of exploration adit technology, including the advantage and applicability of the drilling-splitting method in exploration adit construction. Finally, the development trend of exploration adit excavation equipment is envisioned based on construction technology.