Objective: To compare the safety and efficacy of 1aparoscopic and conventional open surgery for distal stomach cancer in Chinese patients. Methods: The literature of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing 1aparoscopic and open surgery for distal stomach cancer in Chinese patients was retrieved by searching the national and international databases from their inception date to May 2013. Meta-analysis was performed by using Revman 5.2 software. Results: Six RCTs involving 555 patients were finally selected, with 278 cases in laparoscopic surgery group and 277 cases in open surgery group. The results of Meta-analyses showed that the intraoperative blood loss, time to the first flatus and food intake, length of postoperative hospital stay, length of incision, number of patients using analgesics, and incidence of postoperative complications were significantly reduced in laparoscopic surgery group compared with open surgery group (all P<0.05); but the operative time was prolonged and number of the removed lymph nodes was decreased in laparoscopic surgery group versus open surgery group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Laparoscopic distal radical gastrectomy is safe and reliable with less perioperative complications, faster postoperative recovery and shortened length of hospital stay, but with a prolonged operative time and decreased lymph node clearance.