We　briefly　describe　the　developments　in　photocatalysis　research　in　China　in　the　three　time　periods　of　1975-1985,　1985-1995,　and　1995-2012,　focusing　on　advances　in　photocatalytic　materials　and　their　modifications,　applications,　and　reaction　mechanisms.　This　short　review　also　indicates　some　vital　problems　and　future　development　trends　in　photocatalysis　for　water　splitting,　CO2　reduction,　environmental　purification,　and　selective　organic　photosynthesis.　©　2013　Dalian　Institute　of　Chemical　Physics,　the　Chinese　Academy　of　Sciences.