Rice cultivation in China has nearly ten thousand years of history. Rice varieties occupys an important position in the development of rice sci-techniques and China’s rice culture. For a long time, the farmers bred and accumulated many rice varieties by  natural and artificial selection. After the establishment of new China, the party and the government attach great importance to the research and development of rice sci-techniques especially in varieties breeding, and not stopped even in the “cultural revolution”.  Therefore, Chinese rice varieties appeared three important breakthrough:short-stalked variety, hybrid rice, super hybrid rice, and provide the most important contribution to enhance China’s rice production. The article summarized the cultural factors and  achievements of rice breeding from ancient to modern times, and some varieties of larger spread area at the time.