The new external preparations of tr aditional Chinese medicine （TCM）mainly include transdermal drug delivery preparation and transmucosal drug delivery system. With the development of modern science and technology ，new external preparations of TCM are widely used in internal medicine ，gynecology，pediatrics and other diseases. In order to provide reference for dosage form development of TCM and safe use of drug in clinic ，this paper reviews the research progress of new external preparation technology for TCM （skin penetration method ，carrier encapsulation technology ，etc.），new external dosage forms of TCM（microneedles，gels，patches，film sprays ，suppositories，film agents ，in situ gels ，etc.）. In the future ，the research of new external preparations of TCM should conduct under the guidance of TCM theory ，and pay attention to the new drug delivery system of previous drugs and the development of TCM components of “drug-adjuvant integration ”，strengthen the research on new external preparations of TCM compounds ，and establish an evaluation system in line with the overall characteristics of TCM so as to promote the sustainable development of new external preparations of TCM.