The ninth national conference of hernia and abdominal wall surgery was held in Guangzhou from 7 to 9 July 2016. The authors review and summarize the main focuses of the conference and analyze the current status and new perspectives of hernia surgery in China. It is pointed out that the development of hernia surgery cannot be achieved without the improvement and standardization of surgical procedures and application of new materials, and particularly the academic discussion and communication. It is believed that this conference will play a significant role in facilitating clinical diagnosis and treatment as well as basic research of hernia surgery.