The development of science and technique during the late Ch'ing period was a hard and difficult process. Under the strong pressure of the western gun-boat policy, Chinese scientists had to improve their own traditional technique first, and then introduce the science from the west later. In this article, the author decides to divide the process into three stages to see what happened during the period of modernization in China. Firstly, what was done by Chinese scientists when they tried to improve their traditional methods of shipbuilding and gun-manufacturing during the Opium War (1839-1842). Secondly, how to introduce western science and technique into China by both Chinese and Western scientists at the time of self-strengthening movement (1861 - 1895). Thirdly, what was achieved by the new Chinese scientists before the revolution,of 1911 in shipbuilding, roadbuilding, etc. Lastly, and most importantly, the author hopes to find some factors in China's failure to response to the western challenge.