Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a heterogeneous disease, having diversity in symptom, polysomnography parameter, etc. Studies have found that apnea–hypopnea index as a single measure cannot reflect its heterogeneity. More personalized diagnostic criteria and treatment measures are needed. But there are different kinds of results with different races and regions. It is essential to consider the characteristics of the local population when formulating individual treatment plan. There are significant discrepancies between Chinese and White race in terms of morphologic features, daily habits, religious beliefs and so on. However, the research based on the Chinese population still suffers from scarcity. This review sums up recent progress of studies on OSA from the Chinese population to provide useful references for related research and treatment in the future.