Objective  The purpose of the article was to sum up our clinical experience of treatment of 176 cases of chemical burns and to discuss the fundamental principles in managing chemical burns.Method  A retrospective review was conducted of the patients who sustained chemical burns over a 12  year period ending in July 1997 and treated in our burn unit.Result  One hundred and seventy  six patients were treated in our burn unit from January 1985 to July 1997,with 14 different agents involved.77.60% of the patients burned were related to the accidents in work sites.Out of them 171 cases were cured and there were 5 deaths.Conclusion  The key principles in treatment of chemical burns include removal of the chemical,copious irrigation,proper use of antidotes,control of systemic toxicity and management of inhalation injury.