Red soil is an important, widely distributed soil type covering a large area in China. Red soil is highly fertile, with great potential for exploitation, and plays an important role in China's sustainable agricultural, economic and social development. Red soil is found in 16 provinces to the south of the Yangtze River, an area of 2, 180, 000 km², accounting for nearly 23% of the total land area of the country, while the area of red soil is 1, 480, 000 km² and accounts for 15.4% of the total soil area of the country. Red soil degradation is a serious ecological and environmental problem that requires urgent research and governance. Establishment of red soil ecology, red soil ecological theory and technology is necessary for improved ecological management, environmental improvement and rational development and use of red soil. For practical reasons, it is imperative that research proceeds rapidly in this area. Red soil ecology is a branch of soil ecology, a cross between soil science and ecology, and constitutes the formation of a complex new branch of applied agricultural science. Ecological studies using red soil are required to explore the relationships between soil organisms and microorganisms, biological and environmental factors, and edaphic factors of red soil. In-depth studies are required to determine the role of these factors in the structure and function of the red soil ecosystem and to aid in the development of sustainable control measures. The ultimate goal is to achieve sustainable use of red soil resources and sustainable development of the red soil ecosystems. Red soil ecology focuses on the following seven areas, including 1) red soil ecosystem structure, 2) red soil ecosystem features, 3) evolution of the red soil ecosystem, 4) degradation of red soil ecosystems, 5) red soil ecosystem regulation, 6) red soil ecology and 7) the development and use of red soil resources. Red soil ecology is an applied science. The ultimate aim of the establishment of red soil ecology and red soil ecological studies is the scientific, rational and efficient development and use of red soil resources. Red soil ecological studies aim to enhance agricultural productivity in the red soil region and provide a scientific and technical basis for promoting comprehensive economic and socially sustainable development of red soil. Red soil ecology has several distinct features: it is 1) overlapping and marginal, 2) complex and comprehensive, 3) both practical and applied, 4) theoretical and academic, 5) diverse and complex, 6) hierarchical and systematic, and 7) long-term and strategic. In the future, red soil ecology will develop towards standardization, digitization, efficiency and an international direction. Several obvious trends in red soil ecology will occur in the future: 1) multidisciplinary approaches will be applied, 2) more scientific and technical personnel will be working in this area, 3) studies will be more in-depth and 4) research methods will move from the qualitative to the quantitative. The move to quantitative research methods will be an important direction for the future development of red soil ecology and will be an important indicator of maturity in this field. To promote sound and rapid development of red soil ecology, we should take the following strategic measures: 1) train specialized personnel, 2) increase material inputs, 3) build research and development platforms, 4) strengthen exchanges and cooperation, 5) encourage researchers to blaze new trails.