Survey and collection are the foundational work in the research field of crop germplasm resources, and enable the performance of conservation, basic research, evaluation and utilization. Survey is able to obtain the information of geographical distribution, ecological types, botanical features and agronomic characteristics of germplasm resources, and this information is valuable in basic studies of crop origin and evolution as well as conservation biology. The collected germplasm resources might contain the boarder genetic diversity which is of interest in discovery of high value genetic resources valuable for agricultural utilization. This paper reviews the history of field survey and collection activities of crop germplasm resources, followed by introduction of the theoretical basis (i.e. disequilibrium distribution, crop origin center and germplasm resources distribution, human civilization and crop origin) of investigation and collection. For providing a practical guideline, this paper introduces the detailed methods and notes in the survey and collection, and proposes the future development in the field of crop germplasm resource survey and collection.