Abstract: The master planning of scenic and historic areas is an important tool for management of scenic and historic areas. In the current reform period of the protected area system, scenic and historic areas are facing new situations and new requirements. In order to refine the management of scenic and historic areas, it is imperative to clarify the guiding principles of the formulation of the master planning of scenic and historic areas. Based on the outstanding characteristics of scenic and historic areas, the core requirements for the master planning of scenic and historic areas, and the development situation of scenic and historic areas in the new era, this research suggests that on the basis of maintaining the characteristics of comprehensive planning, the master planning of scenic and historic areas should enrich the content of ecological protection, strengthen the protection and inheritance of history and culture, enhance the management and control of human activities to promote the harmonious coexistence between man and nature, focus on scope research to solve historical problems, ensure precise spatial positioning to incorporate “one map” management, simplify contents that can hardly be implemented and highlight the priorities in planning management, and straighten out the relationship between major construction projects and master planning to match the development reality, so that the formulation of the master planning of scenic and historic areas in the future will be realistic and innovative, and reflect the requirements of the times and the actual needs.