Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a water surface detection method, an unmanned aerial vehicle landing method and an unmanned aerial vehicle. The detection method includes: controlling the unmanned aerial vehicle to generate an airflow, where the airflow is used to generate a water surface ripple; obtaining an image of a landing area of the unmanned aerial vehicle and a flight parameter of the unmanned aerial vehicle; and processing the image, and determining, with reference to the flight parameter, whether the landing area has the water surface ripple. Damage caused by erroneous landing of the unmanned aerial vehicle on a water surface can be alleviated by determining whether the landing area has the water surface.