Primary liver cancer is the most common malignant tumor of the liver. In China, it is still the fourth most common malignant tumor and the second cause of cancer-related death. According to the basic principles of evidence-based medicine, the National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People’s Republic of China updated the relevant recommendations and released the guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of primary liver cancer (2017 edition), on basis of 2011 edition combined with the progress of diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in recent years. The authors interpret the main points and updates of the guidelines in terms of screening, diagnosis, staging and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.