Adopting appropriate fluid therapy strategy for perioperative patients is essential to perioperative management, which could reduce perioperative complications, shorten hospitalization days and improve prognosis of postoperative patients. In this article, we reviewed the history and the progress of perioperative fluid therapy strategy, including early goal directed therapy, the strategy of fast track surgery, acute high-capacity perfusion during anesthesia induction and small volume hypertonic saline resuscitation. At the same time, we summarized some controversial issues such as the selection of fluid for resuscitation and the security of artificial colloid.