Background: The release of the Healthy China Strategy and the aftermath of COVID-19 have prompted us to deliver more high-level medical talents to meet the urgent needs in the up-coming future. The purpose of this study is to review the current medical education systems in China and analyze its developing direction of medical education from a long-term perspective. Main text: The comprehensive medical education systems in China are analyzed as follows. Current conditions of medical education in China:1. Parallel running of multiple medical education systems; 2. Synergistic development of medical education in different regions; 3. Continuous improvement of the diversified medical curriculum; 4. Multiple departments collaborative management mechanism in medical education. The model of foreign medical education: 1. American model; 2. British model; 3. Japanese model. Prospects for the future of medical education in China: 1. Establishing unified medical degrees with clear objectives; 2. Focusing on general practitioners and primary care; 3. Strengthening medical humanities and public health education; 4. Improving the management mechanism between colleges and affiliated hospitals. Conclusions: This review integrates the current situation of medical education in China and successful foreign medical education models, and then proposes interventions for reform in order to cultivate medical personnel that meet future needs in China. This review may serve as a reference for the educational efforts of medical schools in China.