Lignin　is　an　important　component　of　lignocellulose,　and　its　content　in　lignocellulose　is　15%–35%,　next　to　cellulose.　Lignin　is　a　kind　of　aromatic　polymers　with　amorphous　and　complex　structures,　produced　by　enzymatic　dehydrogenative　polymerization　with　three　phenylpropanoid　monomers,　that　is,　synapyl　alcohol,　coniferyl　alcohol,　and　p-coumaryl　alcohol.　As　a　functional　medium,　ionic　liquids　(ILs)　have　some　unique　excellent　physiochemical　properties,　such　as　high　boiling　point,　non-volatile,　designable.　It　has　good　solubility　for　lignin,　which　means　the　homogenization　in　the　conversion　process　of　lignin.　Therefore,　more　and　more　attention　has　been　paid　to　the　catalytic　conversion　of　lignin　into　high　value-added　chemicals　in　ILs.　In　this　article,　the　research　on　the　effective　conversion　of　lignin　and　lignin　model　compounds　into　value-added　aromatic　compounds　with　ILs　as　solvents　and/or　catalysts　is　reviewed,　and　the　challenges　and　opportunities　in　this　field　are　analyzed　and　prospected.　©　2020　Science　China　Press.　All　Rights　Reserved.