The　sol-gel　process　has　become　a　rapidly　growing　research　area　in　materials　science.　A　variety　of　materials　prepared　via　sol-gel　routes　have　shown　unique　properties　and　characteristics　that　are　difficult　to　achieve　using　conventional　methods.　In　recent　years,　tremendous　progress　in　sol-gel　R&D　has　been　made　not　only　in　the　world　but　also　in　China.　Here,　this　review　provides　a　retrospective　overview　of　the　sol-gel　history　in　China　and　summarizes　recent　progress　and　applications　of　sol-gel　research　in　Chinese　universities,　institutes,　and　industries.　It　highlights　some　of　the　recent　developments　published　by　Chinese　researchers　in　the　last　5　years,　ranging　from　the　sol-gel　synthesis　of　nanomaterials,　bulk　materials,　and　functional　coatings,　to　their　applications　in　the　fields　of　energy　conversion,　energy　storage,　photocatalysis,　etc.　It　is　evident　that　sol-gel　technology　nowadays　in　China　has　evolved　into　a　vibrant　research　area　both　in　academia　and　industry.　[GRAPHICS]　.