The article discusses the importance of the cold chain in China's food industry. It highlights how incomplete cold chain facilities contribute to food waste and safety issues. The rapid growth of frozen food production in China is also noted. The government has implemented policies to support the development of the cold chain. Various stages of the cold chain, from pre-cooling to refrigerated transportation, are reviewed. The use of refrigerants in the cold chain and future trends are discussed. Regulations and standards related to the cold chain are summarized, along with recent research activities in the field.