This article provides a comparative view of Chinese social work by putting related issues in perspective in order to maintain a historical and comprehensive understanding of the changing fields of policy and practice. The rebuilding of professional social work in China is reaching a 30-year milestone since its beginning. The first sociology undergraduate and graduate students at Sun Yat-sen University，Guangzhou，witnessed the initial stage，which produced mainland China’s first graduates with systematic social work education in 1988. China’s first national training program for social work educators was also held at Sun Yat-sen University in 1989. However，it was not until China entered a new era of a “post-economic state” emphasizing truly balanced development that social work flourished in an unprecedented way. It actually represents the direction of entire applied social science in China. At present，Chinese social work is still officially considered at an infant stage with its weaknesses. Yet，all those who felt “problems” might not be clear about potential issues for research，and how to study them. By giving examples on a few fundamental issues as well as international and historical perspectives，it is hoped that social work education and research in China will benefit from related research with a “quantum leap” leading to a more advanced stage of development. Human diversity，human rights，social justice and social equity are used as examples to illustrate the importance of such research. It also shows that to continue reform and “open door” at a higher stage，China needs to embrace the essences of social thoughts and social systems from other countries，just like the introduction of Marxism from the West in the early 20th century. This includes further development of the legal system，sticking to principles against all kinds of discrimination and prejudice，respecting human diversity，and advancing social justice and social equity. In today’s China emphasizing on rule by law and with more and more active participation from social workers and social policy researchers，more and more social injustice and discrimination will be outlawed while human rights，social justice，and social equity better protected. On the other hand，the successful experience of socioeconomic development with Chinese characteristics may produce best practice lessons for other countries as well.