Over　the　past　decades,　there　has　been　a　growing　interest　in　rechargeable　aqueous　Zn-ion　batteries　(AZIBs)　as　a　viable　substitute　for　lithium-ion　batteries.　This　is　primarily　due　to　their　low　cost,　lower　redox　potential,　and　high　safety.　Nevertheless,　the　progress　of　Zn　metal　anodes　has　been　impeded　by　various　challenges,　including　the　growth　of　dendrites,　corrosion,　and　hydrogen　evolution　reaction　during　repeated　cycles　that　result　in　low　Coulombic　efficiency　and　a　short　lifetime.　Therefore,　we　represent　recent　advances　in　Zn　metal　anode　protection　for　constructing　high-performance　AZIBs.　Besides,　we　show　in-depth　analyses　and　supposed　hypotheses　on　the　working　mechanism　of　these　issues　associated　with　mildly　acidic　aqueous　electrolytes.　Meanwhile,　design　principles　and　feasible　strategies　are　proposed　to　suppress　dendrites＇　formation　of　Zn　batteries,　including　electrode　design,　electrolyte　modification,　and　interface　regulation,　which　are　suitable　for　restraining　corrosion　and　hydrogen　evolution　reaction.　Finally,　the　current　challenges　and　future　trends　are　raised　to　pave　the　way　for　the　commercialization　of　AZIBs.　These　design　principles　and　potential　strategies　are　applicable　in　other　metal-ion　batteries,　such　as　Li　and　K　metal　batteries.　State-of-the-art　advances　in　the　rational　design　of　aqueous　zinc-ion　batteries　and　their　progress　in　practical　applications　are　systematically　summarized　in　this　review.　Various　strategies　to　protect　the　Zn　anode　from　forming　dendrites＇　formation,　restricting　hydrogen　production　and　corrosion,　are　proposed　from　both　working　mechanism　and　material　perspectives,　including　structure　design,　electrolyte　modification,　and　interface　regulation.　image