Abstract: Mass spectrometry imaging technology is a comprehensive and rapid new analysis technology, which has its unique advantages in the field of metabolism of traditional Chinese medicine. It can solve the scientific problem of limiting the development of modernization of traditional Chinese medicine due to the diversity of chemical constituents and complex metabolites. In this paper, the classification, related equipment and development of mass spectrometry imaging are introduced by searching the relevant literature. The application of mass spectrometry imaging techniques with different principles in the field of metabolism of traditional Chinese medicine is emphasized, and the existing advantages and development of this technology are summarized.