The construction of characteristic and high-level application-oriented university is the internal requirement for local universities to realize the connotative development. Starting from clarifying the connotation of characteristics, high level and application type, this paper explores the path of local colleges and universities to build characteristic and high level application type universities from the aspects of building "double teachers and double abilities" teachers, cultivating high level application type talents, striving to improve the level of applied scientific research, and enhancing the cultural strength of universities, and puts forward the safeguard measures.