Objective To establish a rat model of increased blood flow-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension generated by anastomosis of the left common carotid artery to left external jugular vein. Methods 45 male SD rats were divided into three groups: the shunt group, the ligation group and the sham group. At twelve weeks after the procedure, the general status of the rats was observed. Heart conditions, cardiac output and shunt patency were measured by echocardiography. Right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) and Qp/Qs were checked by catheterization. Right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI) was calculated and lung tissues were examined by pathology using hematoxylin-eosin and elastin Van Gieson staining. All data were analyzed statistically by one-way ANOVA test using SPSS 16.0. Results There was no significant difference in body weight gains between the groups. The patency rate of shunt was 84.6%. The heart was enlarged in the group shunt. Cardiac output increased significantly in the shunt group than that in the other two groups [(309.8±33.1) mL/min·kg vs. (245.6±31.9) mL/min·kg, (240.8±30.9)mL/min·kg, respectively, P<0.05]. In the shunt group Qp/Qs was 2.16±0.38 and RVSP increased to (35.8±4.9) mmHg, RVHI was 0.3263±0.0342, significantly higher than that of the other groups. The pulmonary arteriolar wall was evidently thickened in contrast to that in the sham group [(22.3±1.7)% vs. (10.6±1.7)%, P<0.05). Conclusions Anastomosis of the left common carotid artery to left external jugular vein can successfully establish pulmonary arterial hypertension model induced by high blood flow in rats.