Due　to　the　long-term　service,　Chinese　ancient　timber　buildings　show　varying　degrees　of　wear.　Thus,　structural　health　monitoring　(SHM)　for　these　cultural　and　historical　treasures　is　desperately　needed　to　evaluate　the　service　status.　Although　there　are　some　FBG　sensing-based　SHM　systems,　they　are　not　suitable　for　Chinese　ancient　timber　buildings　due　to　the　differences　in　architectural　types,　structural　loads,　materials,　and　environment.　Besides,　a　technical　gap　in　Fiber　Bragg　grating　(FBG)　sensing-based　column　inclination　monitoring　exists.　To　overcome　these　weaknesses,　this　paper　develops　an　FBG　sensing-based　structural　health　monitoring　system　for　Chinese　ancient　Chuan-dou-type　timber　buildings　that　aims　at　monitoring　structural　deformation,　i.e.,　beam　deflection　and　column　inclination,　temperature,　humidity,　and　fire　around　the　building.　An　in-situ　test　and　simulation　analyses　were　conducted　to　verify　the　effectiveness　of　the　developed　SHM　system.　To　validate　the　long-term-operation　of　the　developed　SHM　system,　monitoring　data　within　15　months　were　analyzed.　The　results　show　good　agreement　between　the　developed　SHM　system　in　this　paper　and　other　methods.　In　addition,　the　SHM　system　operated　well　in　the　first　year　after　its　deployment.　This　implies　that　the　developed　SHM　system　is　applicable　and　effective　in　the　health　state　monitoring　of　Chinese　ancient　Chuan-dou-type　timber　buildings,　laying　a　foundation　for　damage　prognosis　of　such　types　of　timber　buildings.