Over the past century, with the rapid development of society and the improvement of human life, global ecological destruction and environmental pollution problems have greatly affected the integrity and stability of the biosphere. The topic of sustainable development has received widespread attention. Ecosystem health comprises the comprehensive characteristics of the ecosystem. It is an ability to maintain the integrity of ecosystem structure and function. As a measure for sustainable development, healthy ecosystems are generally regarded as the ultimate goal of environmental management. In 1991,the International Association for Ecology and Health (ISEH) was established to explore the basic theories and approaches in ecosystem health assessment. However, since its disbanding in 2002, research perspectives on ecosystem health have been divided. This paper reviews the latest developments in the conceptual framework, quantitative evaluation methods, and index systems of ecosystem health. Statistical and document comparisons show there is a development framework transition from ecosystem health to ecological health and to ecological culture health. Ecosystem health and ecosystem culture health is a new research perspective that aims at maintaining a healthy ecosystem as well as meeting the needs of mankind such as cultural values, beliefs, and knowledge. Ecosystem health on a regional scale is the new research direction, for it is the most suitable scale in ecosystem management and practice. The field of resources and environment is an advantageous research field for Chinese researchers where the ecosystem health concepts and methods are applied on regional scale. Ecosystem health assessment on a regional scale is similar to the composite characterization of holistic theory, focusing on the interaction of resources environment and social culture. Chinese scholars can play a leading role in the ecosystem health evaluation method at a regional level. Ecological system research for Chinese scholars should at first focus on the scale of the ecosystem, where ecosystem management and restoration can incorporate international experience. The improvement and application of the conceptual framework is also of great importance in leading China on the path of sustainable development. Taking advantage of regional integration research in a geographical ecological perspective is an effective way to use the ecosystem health research results to guide the establishment and implementation of regional ecological and environmental policy.