Abstract: The recent lightning research progresses are summarized in the following areas as the lightning locating technology, spatial-temporal characteristics of lightning activity in Beijing area, relationships between lightning activity and strong convective weather, lightning forecasting and warning method, lightning physical processes, numerical simulation of thundercloud electrification and lightning discharges. Through the researches in these aspects, the lightning discharge characteristics are acquired systemically, especially in the spatial-temporal characteristics in Beijing area. Furthermore, important advances in lightning forecasting and warning method and lightning physics process are also obtained. However, the observation experiment and theoretical research of lightning discharge processes still need to be improved because of the randomicity and transience of lightning occurrence. In order to comprehend the lightning physics thoroughly, long-term basic researches on the dynamics, the microphysics and the electrification activity in the thunderstorm and their relationship are also needed. The theoretical foundation for lightning forecasting and warning will be provided by these researches, and the application of lightning locating information will be improved for the detection and warning of strong convective weather. On the basis of the further study of lightning initiation and propagation, the research of lightning damage mechanism will be carried out, e.g., the attachment process of CG lightning, the damage to electronic instruments caused by different electromagnetic radiation frequency range etc, by which the technical support for lightning protection can be provided.