Abstract: Since the proposal of establishing national parks system in the 3rd Plenary Session of 18th Central Committee of CPC, construction of national parks had a steady promotion and orderly development in China, and relevant research has been carried out and a great deal of results have been achieved. China is now establishing protected area systems which are dominated by national parks, indicating that the revolutionary change will take place in the field of protected areas. Through introducing recent research advances on national parks, this article makes a brief review on the development course of national parks in China, which will provide references for the further research on national parks and protected area system.