Abstract: The production and application of flame retardants in China were reviewed, and the existing problems in this area were also analyzed. The classification，mechanism，research, and development of environmentally friendly flame retardants were introduced. The approaches to enhance the flame retardant efficiency of intumescent flame retardants were also discussed, including synergistic technology, surface modification, and microencapsulation. In the end, the future development of intumescent flame retardants was forecast.