Visual　detection　method　is　a　means　of　quantitative　analysis　by　the　naked　eye　through　the　comparison　of　color　intensity　or　type　of　change.　Owing　to　its　simplicity,　low-cost,　rapid　operation,　and　equipment-free,　visual　detection　was　widely　used　in　the　detection　of　numerous　targets.　Gold　nanomaterials　were　widely　used　in　the　construction　of　visual　biosensors　due　to　its　unique　optical　properties　when　compared　to　other　nanomaterials.　The　local　surface　plasmon　resonance　absorption　peak　would　change　with　the　variety　in　the　distance　or　the　morphology.　Herein,　this　paper　reviewed　the　application　of　gold　nanomaterials　in　the　construction　of　visual　biosensors　for　the　detection　of　target　molecules.　Meanwhile,　we　pointed　out　the　main　problems　of　gold　nanoparticles　based　colorimetric　methods　in　the　determination　of　actual　samples.　The　forecast　of　gold　nanoparticles　based　biosensor　was　also　provided　at　the　end　of　this　article.　©　2018　Changchun　Institute　of　Applied　Chemistry,　Chinese　Academy　of　Sciences