Abstract: In the context of accelerating the modernization process of meteorological operation and the occurring of torrential rain flood disaster on July 21, 2012 in Beijing, a review about the main progress of torrential rain research in North China is given, which involves large-scale circulations, middle and low latitude system interaction, moisture transport, upper and low level jets, mesoscale systems producing directly the rainstorm, complex terrain, surface, and climate characteristics. To sort these study results is to deepen the understanding, promote the research and improve the forecast level of torrential rain in North China. The remaining questions and what should be focused on in the future are suggested. The research of evolution of large-scale systems should be continued, meanwhile, it is necessary to adopt the new type of observation and numerical simulation to carry out pertinently the detailed study on β (γ) mesoscale system of the torrential rain in North China in order to reveal more clearly the characteristics of the three-dimensional structure of the mesoscale systems and the formation and development mechanism of the torrential rain in North China.