Establishment and improvement of the ecological protection compensation mechanism ("eco-compensation") is an important measure for promoting an ecological civilization in China. Through a comprehensive analysis of eco-compensation cases throughout the country, we found that the program's implementation process accelerated significantly after the 18th CPC National Congress, with a dramatic increase in both the number of cases and the amount of capital invested. However, problems persist, such as the single source of compensation funds and the uneven development of ecological protection compensation practices in different fields and regions. Broadening the sources of compensation funds, accelerating the improvement of market-based ecological protection compensation mechanisms, promoting the practical exploration of the more "backward" fields and regions, and improving the ecological compensation legislation are all extremely meaningful steps for further improving China's eco-compensation mechanism.