Alumina as the second metal after iron is a basic material and strategic ore for economy. China ranks the No.1 in alumina production and consumption, but low in guaranteeing extent in alumina resource/reserve, largely depending upon exporting. This paper, based on the status of China's alumina resources, summarizes the progress in alumina ore exploration, in new discoveries of rare elements and rare earth elements, in deposit genesis from geochemistry, aiming at providing references in bauxite exploration and development.