Atmospheric electricity mainly studies the electrical processes occurring in the Earth"s atmosphere and near-Earth space as well as their mechanisms and effects. The core research contents are lightning physics and thunderstorm electricity. Since the 1980s, Atmospheric electrical research has continuously made new progress in China. Thanks to the advances in high-time-resolution lightning detection technology, the research on atmospheric electricity has not only achieved important results in the aspects of lightning physics and thunderstorm cloud charge structure, but also in the impact of lightning and thunderstorms on the near-Earth space, and the characteristics of lightning in strong convective weather, and lightning data assimilation and early warning and forecasting of lightning have made important progress. This paper summarizes recent research progress of atmospheric electricity in China in the past five years from six aspects, including high-precision lightning detection technology, lightning physical process and mechanism, the impact of thunderstorms on the middle and upper atmosphere, observation and numerical simulation of thundercloud charge structure, characteristics and forecast of lightning in strong convective weather, the impact and response of lightning on climate change, etc. Based on this review, key priorities for future research on the atmospheric electricity are highlighted.