Benzaldehyde　is　an　important　fine　chemical　widely　used　in　spices,　dyes,　medicine,　pesticides,　auxiliaries　and　synthetic　materials.　Heterogenous　photocatalytic　synthesis　of　benzaldehyde　from　toluene　has　been　drawing　increasing　attention　due　to　the　relatively　mild　reaction　conditions,　high　selectivity　and　easy　recycling　of　the　catalyst.　Centered　on　the　development　of　efficient　photocatalysts,　this　article　reviews　the　research　progress　of　the　photocatalytic　selective　oxidation　of　toluene　in　the　past　ten　years.　Different　types　of　photocatalysts　(including　TiO2-based,　Bi-based,　CdS-based,　g-C3N4-based,　etc.)　are　discussed,　along　with　the　design　philosophies　and　reaction　mechanisms.　Finally,　being　a　longtime　participant　in　this　field,　we　provide　our　prospects　on　the　design　and　preparation　of　the　photocatalysts,　the　reaction　mechanism,　as　well　as　the　development　of　high　efficiency　photocatalytic　reactors.　©　2020　Science　China　Press.　All　Rights　Reserved.