Life　cycle　assessment　(LCA)　is　a　technique　for　systematically　analyzing　the　environmental　impacts　and　resources　used　throughout　a　target＇s　life　cycle,　i.e.　from　raw　material　acquisition,　via　production　and　use　phases,　to　waste　management.　It　is　an　effective　tool　that　gives　a　detailed　information　of　environmental　profiles　of　a　material　or　a　product.　More　importantly,　the　value　of　life　cycle　thinking　lies　in　its　ability　to　provide　the　decision　making　basis　for　sustainable　development,　making　the　products,　industries　and　even　the　whole　industry　chain　act　more　in　line　with　the　principles　of　sustainable　development.　The　recent　developments　of　LCA　methods　and　applications　of　materials　life　cycle　assessment　in　China　were　reviewed.　In　the　sections　on　LCA　methodology,　the　data　quality　analysis,　the　impact　of　land　use　and　abiotic　resource　depletion　as　well　as　the　weakness　in　life　cycle　impact　assessment　were　discussed.　In　relation　to　the　applications,　the　Chinese　materials　database　(SinoCenter　Database)　and　several　representative　case　studies　such　as　life　cycle　analysis　of　civilian　buildings　and　metal　production　in　China　were　introduced.