Abstract: As a long-lived anthropogenic greenhouse gas, second only to CO₂, methane (CH₄) influences the radiative balance of the Earth. CH₄also plays a critical role in atmospheric chemistry by affecting the oxidizing capacity of the atmosphere. Consequently, it is important to get a clear understanding of the characteristics of atmospheric CH₄, especially for the countries where both air quality and climate change are of great concern. In this paper, we have discussed related researches and issues about the sources and sinks, observations and simulations of atmospheric CH₄.