As　the　latest　member　of　graphene　families,　graphene　quantum　dots　(GQDs)　have　excellent　performances　conferred　by　graphene.　Besides,　it　exhibits　additional　marvelous　properties　due　to　quantum　confinement　and　edge　effects.　So　it　has　attracted　more　and　more　attention　from　scientists　in　aspects　of　chemistry,　physical,　materials,　biology　and　so　on.　In　the　past　two　and　three　years,　significant　advances　in　both　the　experimental　and　theoretical　fronts　have　been　made　for　this　new　sort　of　zero-dimensional　materials.　In　this　paper,　we　introduce　the　synthetic　methods　of　GQDs,　focusing　on　two　main　approaches　(top-down　and　bottom-up).　Top-down　approach　consists　of　hydrothermal　methods,　electrochemical　strategies　and　chemical　exfoliation　of　carbon　fibers.　Bottom-up　method　mainly　involves　solution　chemistry　methods,　ultrasonic　and　microwave　preparation　and　controlled　pyrolysis　of　polycyclic　aromatic　hydrocarbons.　We　also　give　some　brief　introduce　to　some　special　methods　such　as　electro-beam　lithography　and　ruthenium-catalyzed　C-60　transformation　which　need　harsh　preparation　conditions,　and　we　make　a　perspect　for　the　applications　of　GQDs　in　the　future.