Provided is a method for extracting an image salient curve. The method comprises the following steps: drawing an approximate curve along a salient edge of an image from which a salient curve is to be extracted; obtaining short edges in the image; calculating a harmonic vector field by using the drawn curve as a boundary condition; filtering the short edges in the image by using the harmonic vector field; updating the vector field by using the short edges left in the image as boundary conditions; and obtaining an optimal salient curve of the image by using the energy of a minimized spline curve in the vector field. Also provided is a system for extracting an image salient curve. The image salient curve can ensure the smoothness and a bending characteristic.