With　the　development　of　embodied　intelligence　and　computer　vision,　human　action　recognition　has　gradually　become　an　important　component　of　interactive　cognition.　Graph　convolutional　networks　exhibit　strong　capabilities　in　handling　graph　data　relationships,　and　are　of　great　significance　for　research　in　the　domain　of　action　recognition.　The　paper　offers　an　overview　of　action　recognition　using　graph　convo-lutional　networks.　Firstly,　it　introduces　the　concept　of　Graph　Convolutional　Networks.　Secondly,　it　introduces　the　realm　of　action　recognition.　Afterward,　it　presents　action　recognition　techniques　leveraging　graph　convolutional　networks　and　hy-pergraphs,　and　enumerates　commonly　used　datasets　for　action　recognition　with　graph　convolutional　networks.　Finally,　we　present　a　conclusion　of　action　recognition　based　on　graph　convolutional　networks.　©　2023　IEEE.