Abstract: Near-surface remote sensing is an important technique for in-situ monitoring of forest phenology and a robust tool for scaling of the phenology with a high temporal resolution and mode-rate spatial coverage. Here, we first reviewed the methods of near-surface remote sensing with three major optical sensors (i.e., radiometer, spectrometer, and digital camera) for monitoring forest phenology. Second, we analyzed sources of uncertainties from distinguishing the phenophases by using the data obtained at the Maoershan flux site in the temperate forest. We found that the error was mainly attributed to the extracting method. Third, we analyzed the linkage of near-surface remote sensing with other methods and its intrinsic problems. Finally, we proposed four priorities in the research of this field: 1) linking optical (or canopy structural) phenology with functional phenology (physiological and ecological processes); 2) integrating the regional networks of canopy phenology for global networking observation and data sharing of canopy phenology; 3) integrating multi-source and multi-scale phenological data with the help of near-surface remote sensing; 4) developing phenology models based on near-surface remote sensing in order to improve the phenology simulation in the dynamic global vegetation models.