Objective To explore the breeding status of mosquitoes in rain-water catch basin and sewer inspection pits of Shanghai district, and provide basic data for mosquito control in storm and sewer drainages. Methods Rain-water catch basin and sewer inspection pits of residential areas, parks and roads selected in downtown Shanghai, outskirts of town and suburb, were investigated to learn the mosquito larval breeding situation and the habits in July, 2017. Results Of the 878 basins, 41.69% of which had water, and the positive breeding-rate was 49.73%. The positive breeding-rate of flat grate type and vertical grate type were 50.36% and 47.67%. The average density of mosquitoes was 9.97 per dip. Of the 284 sewer inspection pits, 82.04% of which had water, and the positive breeding-rate was 18.88%, the average density of mosquitoes was 4.85 per dip, the positive breeding-rate of basins was significantly higher than in sewer inspection pits (χ²=57.643, P=0.000). The highest positive breeding-rate in flat grate type and vertical grate type was in residential areas, being 56.46% and 23.23%, the positive breeding-rate in parks were 45.35% and 12.50%; the positive breeding-rate in roads were 35.21% and 7.89%; the difference was statistically significant (χ²=10.433, 6.399, P=0.005, 0.042). There were Aedes albopictus (52.20%)and Culex pipiens pallens/quinquefasciatus (47.80%) breeding in basins. There were Cx. pipiens pallens/quinquefasciatus (70.45%)and Ae. albopictus (29.55%)breeding in sewer inspection pits. Conclusion The rain-water catch basins were important mosquito breeding ground in surface drainage system. The mosquito control of the rain-water catch basins should be strengthened.