The year 1964 was remarkable and historical time in terms of the construction of large-scale genetic improvement programs and improved tree seed production bases in China. Seed orchards of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) at the state-owned Yangkou Forest Farm, Fujian Province; slash pine (Pinus elliottii) in Hongling, Taishan, Guangdong Province; and Mongol scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) at Qingshan Forest Farm, Linkou, Heilongjiang Province, were established. Over half a century later, there great progress was noted. A total of 99 national tree species germplasm banks and 294 national key improved seed productive bases (seed orchards and breeding arboretums) were established, and 170 million kilograms of improved seeds and over 280 billion nursery stocks were produced. Moreover, 3 224 improved tree varieties were tested and approved, and the supplement of genetically improved seeds covered 65% of the new afforestation area. The achievement of genetic improvement was also satisfactory. For instance, the genetic gains for volume growth of 6-year-old 1 ^st, 1.5 ^th and 2 ^nd generation offspring of Chinese fir clone seed orchards in Zhejiang Province were 16.97%, 22.58% and 26.42%, respectively. The genetic gains were up to 32.82% and 37.93% from the original and bi-clone Chinese fir seed orchards, respectively, and the genetic gains for volume growth of the 3 ^rd generation off spring of Chinese fir clone seed orchard in Fujian Province reached 76%. In the 21 ^st century, the structure of tree species for constructing forest breeding bases was adjusted. Owing to the abundant resources of tree species in China (there are over 2 000 tree species, many of which serve special purposes and specific functions), the management and direction of improvement of breeding bases in China are highly diversified. In addition to the breeding of good varieties of common industrial wood species such as Pinus, Cunninghamia and Larix, the varieties of the following tress were genetically improved: Chinese fir, masson pine (Pinus massoniana), Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis). special wood species such as fragrant rosewood (Dalbergia odorifera), Nanmu (Phoebe bournei), and Manchur ash (Fraxinus mandshurica); naturally resistant tree species such as saxoul (Haloxylon ammodensron), sandthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), and diversiform-leaved poplar (Populus euphratica); landscape tree species such as tulip tree hybrids (Liriodendron sino-americanum), Yulan magnolia (Magnolia denudata), and golden larch (Pseudolarix amabilis); oil and spice species such as oil-tea tree (Camellia oleifera), oil tung (Vernicia fordii), and star anise (Illicium verum); dry fruit tree species such as hickory (Carya cathayensis), Chinese torreya (Torreya grandis), and Chinese dates (Ziziphus jujuba); and medicinal species such as Tu-Chung (Eucommia ulmoides), officinal magnolia (Magnolia officinalis), and dogwood (Cornus officinalis), among others. The construction of forest breeding bases is a basic project to realize the modernization of forestry in China, and it is the key step in the construction of forest seed programs. In the future, strategic measures for sustainable development of forest breeding bases in China will include the following six steps: ① stabilizing the long-term economic subsidy investment and ensuring long-term normal operation of the base; ② strengthening the operational political management and supervision as well as formulating and revising technical standards and regulations; ③ strengthening scientific and technological supports and improving the coordination of the “Three combinations”(taking the breeding base of improved varieties of production units as the platform, the administrative leading departments of forest seedling management as the leading, and the scientific and technological teams of key disciplines or key laboratories of teaching or scientific research institutions as the technical support team); ④ developing long-term tree breeding programs to ensure the continuation of tree genetic improvement; ⑤ setting up a management steering committee and establishing a scientific decision-making mechanism; and ⑥ regularly holding breeding seminars to discuss the key issues in development.