Abstract: The sodium-cooled fast reactor is the fastest prototype and the closest to commercialization for nuclear power plants amongst the six types of fourth generation reactors, as announced at the Generation IV International Forum. Many countries are paying more and more attention to the research and development of these reactors, due to the inherent safety features, efficient utilization of uranium with the breeding of the plutonium, and transmutation of long-lived actinides.The design and operational safety characteristics of the China Experimental Fast Reactor are reviewed in this paper.