Membrane　type　1　matrix　metalloproteinase　(MT1-MMP)　is　expressed　in　most　tumors　and　is　believed　to　play　a　key　role　in　the　development,　invasion　and　metastasis　of　tumors.　There　is　an　urgent　need　to　develop　a　simple　method　to　detect　the　MT1-MMP　expression　level　on　cells.　In　this　current　study,　we　demonstrated　a　red　emission　Au　cluster　probes　with　the　specific　targeting　of　MT1-MMP　on　human　dopaminergic　neuroblastoma　(SH-SY5Y)　cells.　More　importantly,　utilizing　the　intrinsic　enzyme-like　activity　of　the　Au　cluster　probes,　the　expression　level　of　MT1-MMP　on　the　SH-SY5Y　cells　could　be　assessed　by　the　naked　eye　without　cell　lysis　and　protein　extraction　process.　Furthermore,　SH-SY5Y,　human　breast　cancer　(MCF-7),　and　human　bronchial　epithelial　(16-HBE)　cell　lines　with　different　MT1-MMP　expression　level　could　be　distinguished　using　the　Au　cluster　probes　by　the　naked　eye.　Meanwhile,　fluorescence　intensity　and　Au　count　determined　by　inductively　coupled　plasma　mass　spectrometry　(ICP-MS)　were　used　to　verify　the　feasibility　of　this　simple　analytical　method.　Our　proposed　method　is　rapid,　convenient,　and　accurate　and　could　be　assessed　by　the　naked　eye.　This　visual　assessment　method　of　tumor-associated　proteins　has　immense　implications　in　sorting　tumor　cells.