Abstract: High effective utilization and development of biomass have positive effects on solving energy and environment problems. In this paper, the progress of research and the main ways of biomass thermochemical conversion at home and abroad are summarized. The conversion techniques can help us to obtain valuable chemical products and reduce the influence of energy crisis produced by the increasing shortage of fossil fuels. According our country's situation, the paper puts forward proposals that the fast pyrolysis of biomass is the main research direction.