Abstract:Forests, as a principal component of terrestrial ecosystems, are the largest carbon (C) pool and C sink. The extensive studies over the past decade indicate soil subsystem plays an important role in regulating forest ecosystem C cycling and mitigating global climate change. However, the scientific estimations of forest soil C stock and variability are inadequate, and the understanding of the key C processes and mechanism underlying soil C stability is still limited, due to the diversity of forest types, the complexity of forest structure and the temporal and spatial dynamic variations of responses of forests to disturbances and environmental changes. In this paper, we synthesize findings from published studies in recent ten years on forest soil C stock and soil C process in China, including soil C stocks in different forests, soil C chemical stability, soil respiration and its portioning components in association with underlying mechanisms, and impacts of climate changes and land use change on soil C processes, etc. The research progress of key scientific issues related to soil C processes and the principal unresolved issues are explored. We also discuss the future development of forest soil C research in China in view of the global perspective. The review is expect to provide scientific contributions for understanding forest soil C sequestration potential and for developing adaptation measures in forest management based on the current forest soil C research progress in China.