The year 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up. In these past four decades, research in Chinese criminal law has recovered, stabilized, and developed, before it reached a stage of prosperity. The approach to research in criminal law has shifted from being one-dimensional to being comprehensive. The law now focuses on diverse issues, as opposed to singular ones. The discourse has shifted from an issue-led approach to a more systemic one. The tools used to interpret the law have shifted from substantive ones to a combination of substance and formality. As a result, the number of studies has increased, and in-depth research has grown over time. In the future, research in criminal law will become more specialized and diversified. Researchers will promote consciousness further, broaden their horizons, and promote fruitful research in criminal law.