Abstract: As a new type of pollutant, microplastics have potential harm to the environment, marine organisms and human health, which has attracted extensive attention of scholars at home and abroad. Based on the published literature, this paper analyzes the abundance distribution, particle size, color, shape and polymer type composition of microplastics in surface seawater of the East China Sea, summarizes the general situation of microplastics pollution in the East China Sea, and then analyzes the possible sources of microplastics. The study shows that the overall variation range of microplastic abundance in the surface seawater of the East China Sea is small. The abundance is high along the coast and near the estuary. The distribution of microplastics in surface seawater of the Bohai Sea is relatively uniform, and that in the Bohai Strait and near the land is slightly higher. The abundance of microplastics in some parts of the Yellow Sea (Qingdao inshore and Sanggou bay) is high. The abundance of microplastics in other areas is similar to that of the Bohai Sea. And the abundance of microplastics in South Yellow Sea is slightly higher than that in North Yellow Sea. The abundance of microplastics in the vicinity of the estuaries along the coast of the East China Sea increases significantly, and decreases from coast to sea. The particle size composition of microplastics in surface seawater of the Bohai Sea is mainly <1 mm; And that of the Yellow Sea is mainly <0.5 mm. The particle size composition of microplastics in surface seawater of the East China Sea is mainly 0.5～1 mm and 1～5 mm. The color composition of microplastics in surface seawater of the East China Sea varies greatly. The shape composition is mainly fibrous. The polymer type composition is mainly polyethylene and polypropylene.