The invention discloses a method for recognizing the lightning strike fault and the lightning strike fault type of a power transmission line. The method comprises the steps of immediately judging the polarities of ABC three-phase current traveling waves after the power transmission line is subjected to single-phase fault tripping; judging that the power transmission line is subjected to the lightning strike fault and the fault type is counterstrike if the polarities are totally the same; executing a next step if the polarities are not totally the same; determining a current change rate R of a fault phase, and judging that the power transmission line is subjected to the lightning strike fault and the fault type is shielding failure if R is greater than a threshold value; judging that the power transmission line is subjected to a single-phase ground fault if R is not greater than the threshold value. The invention also discloses a system for recognizing the lightning strike fault and the lightning strike fault type of the power transmission line. The system comprises at least one group of fault detection devices, a wireless communication system and a remote monitoring station, wherein the fault detection devices, the wireless communication system and the remote monitoring station are sequentially connected, and the remote monitoring station adopts the method for judging the fault type of the power transmission line.