Continental shale oil, an important replacement resource for oil and gas reserves and production in China, has received increasing attention. This article systematically describes the geological characteristics, theories, and technology progresses of continental shale oil in China, and forecasts the potential prospects of continental shale oil development in China: ① compared tomarine shales in North America, continental shales in China have features of strong heterogeneities, large cumulative thicknesses, small distribution areas, relatively low thermal maturities, and diverse organic matter types; ② The continental basins in China include faulted- type and depressed- type basins, with diverse sedimentary environments, leading to carbonate- rich and felsic- rich sedimentary systems. Sedimentary environments, including fresh water, brackish water, salted water, and salted lakes can form organic- rich shales which have good reservoir properties. The shale reservoir pore- space types are dominated by inorganic pores and micro- fractures, and the organic pores are gradually developed with thermal maturities; ③ The organic carbon content, lithofacies type, thermal maturity, preservation condition, flowability, and fractability are the main factors for the enrichment and high productivity of continental shale oil in China; ④ after years of research, China has developed a series of technologies for continental shale oil exploration and development, including play evaluation, geophysical prediction of sweet spots, long horizontal well drilling and completion, and staged fracturing technology, providing effective support for shale oil exploration breakthroughs; ⑤ in order to facilitate shale oil development, it is suggested to further strengthen research on enrichment mechanisms and distribution prediction of different types of shale oil, flow mechanism and development of technical policy, long horizontal well fast- optimum drilling and completion, efficient fracturing technology, and supporting equipment and materials for shale oil exploration and development.