China is in the stage of outward transfer of manufacturing industry. The outward transfer of China's manufacturing industry was summarized from the aspects of concept definition, types, characteristics, causes and effects. The results show that the academic research on the outward transfer of manufacturing industry has not reached an agreement in these aspects, especially in the effect of outward transfer of manufacturing industry. In view of the shortcomings of the existing research,the future research was looked forward from three aspects: the measurement of manufacturing outward transfer, the research by region and industry and the establishment of general equilibrium analysis framework.