This paper reviews the marine ranching researches in China since its construction, including introduction of the background and necessity of marine ranching construction in China, and summarizes research process, research content and current basic state of the marine ranching in China. At the same time, we reviewed the research content and development process of marine ranching in foreign countries, especially summarized the research experience of marine ranching in Japan. From their research on marine ranching, researchers of foreign countries concluded that the ultimate goal of marine ranching construction was to restore its natural ecosystem. The current researches of marine ranching in China were focused on their own construction of marine ranching and the population restoration of the enhancement and releasing species. Although there were some researches about the ecological system of marine ranching in China, most of them stayed in the primary research stage, without depth and accuracy. Many research parameters of these researches were introduced from the results of other research works, with no consideration of the differences between natural and artificial sea areas, and the regional differences among marine ranching. The future focus of research work about marine ranching in China should be concentrated on the food web and energy flow of marine ranching's ecosystem, in order to promote the production of marine ranching,and to provide a scientific basis for the study of natural nutrient channels between artificial reef areas and surrounding waters for ecosystem construction.