Introduction  Fusion energy has the characteristics of large energy released through reactions, safe and reliable operation, abundant fuel sources, and low environmental pollution. Therefore, it is expected to become a commercial energy source that can be supplied in the market on a large scale, providing stable energy output and power supply in the future. To popularize the development path of magnetic confined fusion energy in China, the article reviews the discovery and realization path of fusion energy.

  Method  The article provided an overview of the early research and development process of magnetic confined fusion energy in China by the method of literature review. The paper took the development of magnetic confined fusion energy as an example to provide a preliminary overview of the construction of typical research devices in China, such as tokamak, stellarator, spherical tokamak, reversed field pinch, magnetic mirror field, linear plasma, and dipole magnetic field devices.

  Result  Based on the construction and researches of these devices, China has cultivated a group of scientific and technological talents in the field of magnetic confined fusion research, achieving significant progress. In addition, the article provides an overview of international cooperation in fusion energy research, as well as the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project that China is participating in construction.

  Conclusion  Although the current research on fusion energy still needs to overcome significant challenges from various aspects, such as fusion plasma physics, fusion reactor materials, and tritium self-sustaining technology, it is believed that the magnetic confined fusion energy in China will turn from a blueprint into a reality in the future thanks to the urgent need for energy structure transformation and the strong support for fusion researches in China.