With the continuous growth of global trade and the rapid development of new generation information technology,smart port has become an important leading area for accelerating the construction of strong transportation country,and it plays as a critical role for improving port operation efficiency and responding to international trade challenges.To promote digital transformation of the port industry and improve port operation capabilities,service quality,and logistics efficiency,this paper comprehensively uses research methods such as literature research,comparative analysis,and case analysis to illustrate the current construction situation of smart ports in China from three aspects named terminal type,technology application and scenario application.It summarizes that the construction of smart ports is facing problems such as uneven development,insufficient use of new generation information technology,and inadequate data utilization.And it puts forward that in the future,China’s smart ports will undergo transformation towards intelligence,integration,independent,controllable,low-carbon emission,and data sharing.The research results can provide references for the planning and management of smart ports.