In the early 1990s, focusing on the total sequencing and annotation of the complete human genome as its core mission, the Human Genome Project (HGP) was initiated under the leadership of the USA. Since China joined the HGP in 1999, the genomics in China developed rapidly in the past ten years, establishing several genome centers with advanced technology platform, and organizing many grand scientific projects. The development of genomics lead to an unprecedented development in life science research and biotechnology development in China. To display the progress of genomics research in China, the first issue of Sci China Ser C-Life Sci (2009) organized a series of reviews focusing on this special topic. Some reviews analyze the future trend of genomics research and its scientific impact based on the technical perspectives of genomic sequencing, genotyping and functional genomics, while the others present the significant change of research strategy and technology brought in by the HGP with respect to liver cancer, immunology, and medical, environmental and industrial microbiology.