This paper briefly examines current fundamental and applied research into clay minerals in China. A collection of studies from Chinese clay scientists and as a special issue suggests that investigations into the genesis and mineralogy of clay minerals for geology and geochemistry, synthetic clay minerals, the modification of clay minerals for advanced materials, comprehensive and reutilization of clay minerals are important aspects of fundamental and applied clay science within China. Effort is being made to increase the understanding of the genesis and evolution of clay minerals and such knowledge is believed to have scientific implication for paleogeographical, paleoecological, and paleoclimatic conditions and to have applications in mining and processing clay minerals and related environmental and ecological management. Studies on the modification of clay minerals by Chinese clay scientists aim predominantly to make functional clay mineral-polymer nanocomposites, adsorbents, catalysts, and biomaterials. In China, increasingly strict management of natural resources and environment, and an increasing demand for value-added clay-based products, along with the requirements for the sustainability of using clay mineral resources, offer opportunities and challenges to Chinese clay scientists and clay community.