Wild rice is a strategic germplasm resource valuable for rice breeding and basic research, and its protection and practical use are important in Chinese food security. China is one of countries where abundant wild rice resources were found. Owing to the economic development over decades, the original habitat of wild rice had been seriously damaged, i.e. some populations were extinct. Since 1996, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs initiated a serial of projects to support the survey, collection and conservation of wild rice germplasm resources in China. The article summarized the techniques, methods and achievements on investigation, collection and conservation of wild rice resources in China, especially with a focus on the implementation of in situ conservation. We proposed, by taking full consideration of the status on rice wild research as well as the prospective on breeding and bio-techniques, suggestions on future conservation and utilization of wild rice germplasm resources.