Terrestrial ecosystem carbon sink is an important component of carbon sink in China, which plays a key role in carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals achievement. However, there is large uncertainty in estimating terrestrial ecosystem carbon sink due to different types of observation data and assessment methods. To better understand the characteristics of terrestrial ecosystem carbon cycle and improve the accuracy of carbon sink estimation, this review summarized major research progresses in terrestrial carbon sink estimation in China and around the world, and introduced the advantages and disadvantages of major assessment methods (field inventory, eddy covariance method, ecological modelling, and the atmospheric flux inversion method) from bottom-up and top-down ways. Besides, this review clarified major spatial and temporal patterns and change trend, and analyzed the main driving factors of carbon sink from the perspective of land-use/land-cover, climate factors (CO₂ concentration and N deposition), and environmental factors (solar radiation, temperature, and precipitation). Besides, this paper analyzed the main characteristics and temporal and spatial trends of carbon sinks in terrestrial ecosystems in China, and expounded the driving factors of terrestrial ecosystems carbon sinks in China from the perspective of human activities (ecological projects) and environmental factors. On this basis, this review expected the application of new means and methods for improving carbon sink estimation precision and for better serving long-term goal of carbon neutral.