Abstract: Experimental study of flow characteristic in smooth narrow rectangular channel under harmonic pulsating flow which covers laminar to turbulent flow （Reynolds number 750-4450） was carried out. The experimental results show that the frictional factors in acceleration phase of pulsating flow are higher than that in steady state, but lower than that in deceleration phase. Womersley parameter has a significant influence on the critical Reynolds number. The critical Reynolds number decreases with the increase of Womersley parameter in acceleration phase and it is opposite in deceleration phase. An empirical correlation was developed to predict the critical Reynolds number based on the experimental data, and the correlation can fit with critical Reynolds number in steady state.