An　innovative　retrofitting　technique　of　prestressed　high　strength　steel　wire　mesh　(PSWM)　with　new　tension　and　anchor　system　is　presented.　It　consists　of　external　prestressing　of　columns　in　transverse　direction　by　means　of　individual　hoops　with　prestressing　high　strength　strands　and　specially　designed　anchorage　system.　18　columns　are　prepared,　two　of　which　are　control　specimens　and　16　retrofitted　columns　and　a　seismic　performance　test　was　conducted.　Effects　of　steel　strand　spacing,　prestressed　level　and　axial　compression　ratio　on　seismic　retrofitting　performance　and　energy　dissipation　are　studied.　As　the　strand　spacing　is　reduced,　retrofitting　effectiveness,　bearing　capacity　and　ductility　are　significantly　improved.　As　prestressing　level　is　increased,　retrofitting　effectiveness　is　improved　as　well,　i.e.　comparing　prestressed　and　control　columns,　specimens　with　strand　spacing　60　mm　and　axial　compression　ratio　0.4,　yield　load　increased　by　9.1%,　and　ductility　factor　increased　by　11.0%;　for　specimens　with　strand　spacing　of　60　mm　and　axial　compression　ratio　of　0.8,　ultimate　load　increased　by　17.6%.　Specimens　under　high　axial　compression　ratio　displayed　significantly　improved　yield　load,　ultimate　load　and　ductility　factor.　The　influence　of　strand　spacing　on　the　seismic　behavior　of　the　retrofitted　columns　is　more　significant　than　effect　of　prestressing　level.