Ecosystem service flows have increasingly been a hot topic in recent years, as it serves as an important bridge connecting ecosystem services supply and human demand. Research on ecosystem service flows contributes to our understanding of the completed delivery processes of ecosystem services and analyzes the relationship between ecosystem services supply and demand. It has great significance for achieving regional sustainable development and improving human well-being. Based on the comprehensive analysis of relevant studies, this paper described the concept of ecosystem service flows and summarized the approaches for quantifying ecosystem service flows. Following that, the research progress from both theoretical and applied aspects was systematically reviewed. In addition, the shortcomings of recent studies were summarized. These include: 1) the ecosystem serveries delivery process from supply areas to demand areas has not been fully explored; 2) the method of quantitative assessment of ecosystem service flo