Abstract: Using the methods of literature review, comparison, the present paper reviews and analyzes the issues and achievements in sport and social capital research so as to present a picture of the research in China. The findings show that research in the field in China is focused on 10 issues such as participation of sports and generation of social capital, influence of social capital on sports (participants), and so on. Recent years have witnessed a sharp increase in research achievements and the overall quality is satisfactory. The qualitative research is used much more than the quantitative one, the studies are primarily cross-sectional. Social capital theories are roughly applied in some studies. The research achievements can not fully reflect sports practice in China and some research issues need urgent attention. Based on the above findings, the paper puts forward some issues to which due attention and efforts should be paid.

Key words: in China, sport, social capital, sports participant