The right to social assistance is a fundamental human right，as an essential element of the right to social security. After the economic reform，China has gradually established and developed the modern social assistance system. In 2014，China issued the Interim Measures on Social Assistance，which is the highest legal rule on social assistance so far. Personal coverage of social assistance is also enlarged and the level of assistance has been enhanced. Nevertheless，the system faces serious problems and challenges. China needs to tackle these issues with long-term efforts and devoting maximum available resources in order to progressively realize the right to social assistance.