Abstract: The remediation of contaminated sites is one of the critical challenges in soil protection in China, with the selection and application of appropriate soil remediation technologies playing a pivotal role. Drawing upon the soil-related issues encountered during the industrialization and urbanization processes in various countries, as well as their corresponding solutions, we identified three distinct stages in the development of soil pollution remediation: the physical remediation stage, the multi-technology integrated remediation stage, and the stage combining source control with technical remediation approaches. Discussions were conducted from multiple perspectives, including the current understanding of soil pollution, the application of remediation technologies, and laws and regulations. Conventional remediation technologies, such as physical, chemical, and biological methods, were systematically introduced, and their effectiveness in addressing different types of pollutants was analyzed. The advantages and limitations of integrated remediation technologies, along with their performance across various contaminated sites, were also analyzed. Furthermore, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the current status of emerging pollutants in soil, clarified the pathways through which various pollutants enter the soil environment and the associated risks, explored the impacts of these emerging pollutants on soil remediation, and summarized the available technologies for removing emerging pollutants. Finally, the existing problems and challenges facing the soil remediation industry in China were critically considered.

Key words: contaminated site, heavy metal, organic contaminant, emerging contaminant, combined remediation