Abstract: The distribution network has been a weak link in China's power industry for a long time, there is an urgent need to optimize distribution network management based on benchmarking world's first class level. Characteristics of advanced distribution network management in the world was systematically researched in this paper, the connotation of world-class distribution network management was summarized, and evaluation index system was proposed. Drawing on the international comparison of horizontal practices, the evaluation was carried out by method of weight and standard score. Finally, through an example, this paper diagnosed the gap between first tier cities in China and world's first-class distribution network management, and put forward improvement strategies.