Abstract: The East Asian finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis sunameri, EAFPs) is the most common in the coastal waters of Bohai and Yellow Seas as well as the East China Sea in China. Due to increasing anthropogenic activities that overlap the EAFP important habitats, their population has declined sharply. EAFP has been listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Class II protected animals in China. This review summarized the research progress on genetics, ecology, reproduction and physiology, acoustic and behavior of the EAFP in China and main threats they faced, which may include fishery bycatch, habitat loss and degradation, chemical and noise pollution and food shortage. Furthermore, conservation and research suggestions were proposed, including limiting deployments of harmful fishing gears, enhancing environmental assessment and management of marine engineering, reducing chemical and noise pollution level, establishing and implementing fishery resource recovery strategies, designating and establishing marine protected areas and advancing scientific popularization of aquatic wildlife conservation. We hope this review can provide insights in EAFP research and protection.