High altitude pulmonary oedema ( HAPE) is defined as acute respiratory failure following hypoxic exposure to high altitude. The pathogenesis is not clear, and there is no standard animal model. Animal models is the basis of exploring the pathogenesis and treatment on HAPE. Also, it’ s the basis of searching for effective diagnosis and treatment. The method of production of animal models include singly hypoxia exposure, hypoxia exposure combined with fatigue, transgenic technology, etc. This brief review focuses on the animal models from the model creation and model evaluation, in order to provide useful information for researchers and medical practitioners.