Karst　tiankeng,　which　was　discovered　in　peak　cluster　and　hoodoo　karst　areas　of　southern　China　at　the　end　of　the　20th　century,　is　a　very　special　and　grand　negative　karst　landform.　Karst　tiankeng　in　China　has　been　paid　more　attention　by　geomorphologists　and　geologists　all　over　the　world　since　it　was　discovered　to　have　its　unique　values　in　aspects　of　scientific　research,　world　natural　heritage　sites　and　global　geological　heritage　and　tourism.　Until　now,　according　to　classification　method　of　morphology,　geomorphogeny　and　geomorphic　evolution,　it　has　been　disputed　for　a　long　time　whether　karst　tiankeng　can　be　significantly　distinguished　from　normal　dolines.　Additionally,　the　understanding　of　the　classification,　geomorphic　evolution,　developmental　conditions,　geological　dating,　and　karst　ecological　environment　of　tiankeng　are　still　extensively　disputed　by　geomorphologists　and　geologists.　Meanwhile,　a　growing　recognition　of　the　values　and　the　development　and　protection　methods　has　been　received　all　over　the　world.　This　paper　reviews　the　research　stages　and　present　progress,　as　well　as　the　values　and　the　development　and　protection　methods　of　karst　tiankeng　in　China.　Finally,　we　point　out　some　questions　in　the　studies　of　karst　tiankeng　in　China　and　research　directions　to　be　paid　more　attention　in　the　further　studies.　©,　2015,　Science　Press.　All　right　reserved.