Abstract: A new approach to the solution of large deflection bending problem of thin plates is presented by using boundary element method. It is proved that this approach is very satisfactory by several numerical examples in which circular and elliptical plates are compared with those from literature available now. As to the elliptical plate, calculation results are in better agreement with experimental results than those calculated by W. A. Nash. For first time, the large deflection bending problem of half-circular,half-elliptical and equilateral triangular plates are calculated, on which no discussion has yet been found in existing literature.