Abstract: Like research on other crops, research on alfalfa has developed rapidly in modern China. However, there is still much to learn about this important crop. We consulted a large body of literature to classify alfalfa varieties in China and summarize the history, cultivation, and use of this crop. Many studies have been conducted on the origins of alfalfa, the range of alfalfa species and varieties, and on the utilization of this crop. Some studies have compared different alfalfa species such as Medicago sativa, Medicago lupulina, and Medicago minima, and others have focused on the development of bacterial nodules on alfalfa in northwest China, as well as the habitat, adaptation, and moisture and fertilizer requirements of this important plant. Western science and technology and local studies have resulted in the rapid and widespread dissemination of scientific knowledge about alfalfa in relevant journals, newspapers, and other media. All of this information has laid the foundation for further research on alfalfa, and for the development of strategies to increase its cultivation and use in modern China.