Abstract: The nuclear power plant cooled by alkali metal high temperature heat pipe, which has the advantages of high energy density, strong endurance, small environmental interference and high inherent safety, has become one of the key research directions of exploring energy power supply in deep space and ocean. The operating characteristics of high temperature heat pipe of alkali metal is very important for thermoelectric conversion, waste heat discharge and residual heat removal of nuclear power plant. The transferring characteristics of alkali metal high temperature heat pipe from the aspects of transient and steady state were studied and analyzed. The research results in recent years were summarized, and the future research direction was prospected.