Abstract: Circumferential annular cracks generated during manufacture were found on the surface of TP347H stainless steel tube.The cracking cause was analyzed by some experimental methods such as chemical composition analysis,hardness check,inclusion analysis,grain size test,microstructure and crack morphology observation,and energy spectrum analysis.The results show that the surface cracks of the stainless steel tube were stress corrosion cracks.The internal cause for the cracks were the residual stress from the drawing process of the stainless steel tapered tube and the external cause was the chloride ions generated in the course of the acid pickling.The precipitation of chromium carbide at the grain boundaries accelerated the stress corrosion crack.