The　growing　number　of　heart　failure　patients　and　the　scarcity　of　organ　donors　account　for　the　huge　need　for　the　development　of　mechanical　circulatory　systems,　including　ventricular　assist　devices　(VADs)　and　artificial　hearts,　in　China.　Several　research　programmes　on　blood　pumps　have　been　under　way　for　the　last　three　decades.　However,　unlike　in　other　countries,　the　development　of　VADs　has　been　extremely　slow,　and　no　system　is　currently　approved　and　available　for　clinical　application.　There　are　many　reasons　for　this　situation.　This　article　provides　an　overview　of　the　present　development　of　experimental　and　clinical　research　on　VADs　in　China.　In　addition,　the　challenges　for　the　clinical　development　of　mechanical　circulatory　support　in　China　are　discussed.