The molecular analysis methods of PCR amplification, random cloning and sequencing were used to investigate the ammonia-oxidizing bacterial community composition and the activity of ammonia-monooxygenase (AMO) from the activated sludge samples of an industrial wastewater treatment plant receiving sewage with high ammonia concentration. It is the first time to use PCR-DGGE combined technique to analysis the difference of dominant bacterial community compositions of the activated sludge samples in China. The result showed that the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) detected from the activated sludge samples all belong to Nitrosomonas sp. The activity of AMO, the stability of bacteria community composition and the treatment efficiency of the wastewater treatment system were improved evidently, after the activated sludge system was operated for a certain extant. It is suggested that the molecular techniques will contribute to our understanding of the diversity and function of AOB and will benefit to improve the industrial wastewater treatment system.