Shrimp culture has been one of the fastest-growing aquaculture sectors in the past three to four decades and contributes greatly to poverty alleviation, food security, employment and rural economy. A further increase in production is expected to meet the consumption demand from a growing population with higher purchasing power. However, resource scarcity, diseases and environmental impacts are limiting its growth and threating its sustainability. Approaches with better ecological efficiency and nutrient utilisation may offer potential solutions to these impending challenges. China is the biggest producer of farmed shrimp and the largest consumer market in the world. The production was 1.3 million tons in 2018 and the domestic consumption was estimated at 2 million tonnes. This paper examines recent advances and innovations in the ecological approaches in shrimp culture in China.