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The exploration of active faults provides a basis for earthquake disaster prevention and migration. Active seismic survey is generally considered to be one of the most effective active fault exploration techniques because of its high resolution and deep penetration. However, this technique always yields low-resolution seismic data of a near-surface active fault. This limitation can be improved with the increase of sensor density with conventional nodal seismometers, but this is an expensive approach for active fault exploration. Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) seems to be an ideal technique to replace traditional nodal seismometer surveys because it has the advantages of high-density sensors, many channels, and low cost. However, the applicability of active seismic surveys via DAS in the exploration of active faults remains unknown. Here, we designed an active seismic survey test in the Datong Basin, North China, focusing on a graben marked by well-developed normal faults in and around the basin. We selected a buried active fault identified in our previous active seismic profile, and DAS and nodal seismometers were deployed over a possible site of the active fault to conduct a comparative active seismic survey using a tamping machine. The comparisons with data recorded by three-component nodal seismometers demonstrate that DAS can also provide effective near-surface active fault information, and the imaging results also showed that the combination of conventional telecommunication fibre-optic cable and active seismic data processing techniques can be effectively used for near-surface active fault exploration, which is helpful in determining the true location of an active fault. • DAS can be used in the exploration of near-surface active faults as a replacement of conventional nodal seismometers. • High-resolution near-surface active fault are derived from conventional reflection seismic surveys based on DAS. • The diffracted wave in DAS data with high spatial sampling rate can be used to locate the near-surface active fault. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]