Objective To analyze the research progress and development trend of xenotransplantation in China.

Methods Literatures related to xenotransplantation in Chinese and English were searched from CNKI and Web of Science Core Collection databases from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2023. Visualization analysis of the research progress, hot topics and research frontiers in this field was performed by CiteSpace software and R language from the aspects of number of publications, keywords, distribution of journal origin, core author cooperation network, main research institutions, and citation of key literatures, etc.

Results Chinese scholars published 684 articles in Chinese and 624 articles in English, ranking 2nd worldwide. The top 3 Chinese journals regarding the number of publications were Organ Transplantation, Practical Journal of Organ Transplantation (Electronic Version) and Acta Laboratorium Animalis Scientia Sinica. The top 3 English journals were Xenotransplantation, Frontiers in Immunology and Scientific Reports. The top 5 authors regarding the number of publications in Chinese were Pan Dengke, Cai Zhiming, Mou Lisha, Li Xiao and Dou Kefeng. The top 5 authors regarding the number of publications in English were Mou Lisha, Cai Zhiming, Dai Yifan, Wang Yi and Pan Dengke. High-frequency Chinese keywords included xenotransplantation, immune rejection, transplantation, xenogenic, animal model, xenogeneic bone, liver transplantation, gene editing, kidney transplantation, burn and bone transplantation. High-frequency English keywords were expression, xenotransplantation, cells, transplantation and survival.

Conclusions In recent years, certain research achievement and global influence have been obtained in the field of xenotransplantation in China, involving a variety of disciplines and a wide range of research contents. However, cooperation among different institutions is still lacking. In the future, cross-regional and interdisciplinary communication and cooperation should be prompted. Resource sharing and integration should be strengthened to maintain rapid and steady advancement in this field.