Gold　nanoclusters　(AuNCs)　with　near-infrared　II　(NIR-II)　photoluminescence　(PL)　have　emerged　as　novel　bioimaging　probes　for　in　vivo　disease　diagnosis.　So　far,　it　still　lacks　a　systematic　review　focusing　on　the　synthesis,　PL　tuning,　and　in　vivo　imaging　of　NIR-II　luminescent　AuNCs.　In　this　review,　we　briefly　introduce　the　synthesis　of　NIR-II　luminescent　AuNCs　using　various　surface　ligands.　We　discuss　the　origins　and　properties　of　NIR-II　PL　in　AuNCs,　and　summarize　the　strategies　for　improving　and/or　tuning　NIR-II　PL　emissions.　We　also　provide　an　overview　of　the　recent　progress　in　the　application　of　AuNCs　in　tumor-targeted　imaging,　molecular　imaging,　and　other　areas　(such　as　the　sensitive　imaging　of　bones,　vessels,　lymph　nodes,　etc.).　Finally,　we　present　the　prospects　and　challenges　in　the　field　of　NIR-II　luminescent　AuNCs　and　related　imaging　applications,　expecting　to　offer　comprehensive　understanding　of　this　field,　and　thereby　deepening　and　broadening　the　biological　application　of　AuNCs.　©　2023,　The　Nonferrous　Metals　Society　of　China.