Abstract: Mercury emissions from coal-fired boilers have been the largest anthropogenic source of mercury pollution in China.With the characteristics of neurotoxicity,atmospheric mobility and bioaccumulation,mercury brings a serious harm to the natural environment and human health,which has aroused a worldwide concern.At present,mercury control is mainly based on the synergistic removal techniques by utilizing the conventional air pollution control devices( APCDs) in China’s coal-fired power plants( CFPPs).Along with accomplishment of the " near-zero emissions" target,mercury emission limits for the flue gas,fly ash and waste water in power plant will be further tightened.This paper firstly summarizes the current status of rapid update of atmospheric emission standards for mercury pollutants from CFPPs in China,and points out that it is necessary to carry out the deeper mercury removal for coal-fired boiler systems in response to increasingly stringent mercury emission limits.Secondly,the technologies progress in the flue gas mercury measurement is introduced to meet the requirement of atmospheric mercury monitoring and regulation. Thirdly,the removal technologies for mercury from coal combustion are reviewed,especially the research progress in techniques regarding mercury removal by APCDs and flue gas sorbent injection. The development trend of new mercury removal adsorbents is proposed.Fourthly,the removal effect of ultra-low emission retrofit implemented in CFPPs in China on mercury emission reduction has been discussed.Finally,a prospective mercury removal research topic is proposed considering the problems existed in current mercury removal techniques,which aims to provide a scientific reference for the realization of "near-zero mercury emission"and the stabilization of mercury in coal combustion by-products in CFPPs.