Establishing natural protected areas is the most effective and ideal model to protect natural ecosystems and biodiversity in the world so far. Monitoring of natural protected areas is an important part of the protection and management work. In order to understand the current situation and development of the natural protected areas monitoring in China, 698 papers of the natural protected areas monitoring were searched and screened based on CNKI and Wanfang database. Based on Bibliometric method, the monitoring research trends, monitoring indicators, monitoring methods and the province of the natural protected areas were analyzed. We found that the amount of publications on monitoring research on the natural protected areas in China is currently in a period of leaping growth after more than 30 years of germination and slow growth. Among them, a number of monitoring papers about the natural protected areas are the highest, accounting for 67.00%. In terms of monitoring content, the order of attention is in order of biodiversity > ecological environment > human activities > ecological security. Among them, the number of papers related to bird monitoring is the largest, accounting for 20.75%. Artificial field survey method is still the main monitoring research method, but with the development of infrared cameras, satellite remote sensing, and automatic monitoring system, its proportion has dropped to 60.00%. In the research area, the regional imbalance is very significant, with the number of papers ranging from 6 to 48. We proposed that the input of scientific research monitoring should take into account different types of nature reserves, monitoring with new scientific and technological means as far as possible, and paid more attention to amphibians, reptiles, fish, invertebrates, human activities and ecological security. Finally, this paper puts forward corresponding monitoring and management suggestions.