Mountain altitudinal belt is one of the important contents for studying geographic differentiation. Altitudinal belt is influenced by soil, climate and biological conditions. Mountain altitudinal belt has been changed with climate change recently. In present article, the development of mountain altitudinal belt research was analyzed, main features of the altitudinal belt was explored, the spatial pattern as well as the innovation of research method was discussed, and the mountain altitudinal belt researches in China, the Rocky Mountains, the Alps and other regions were comprehensively reviewed. Thus, we hold that using the observed datum (weather, biological documents, soil and terrain data, and the succession process and pattern of mountain belt observation) to analyze the belt changed with the future climate scenarios, which plays an important role in ecological security and environmental protection. Meanwhile, multidisciplinary knowledge is meaningful for mountain research, for instance, we should synthesize knowledge of geological structure, meteorology, plant physiology and soil ecology to explain the cause of mountain altitude belt. The mountain attitude belt theory cannot meet the needs of scientific research, so theoretical studies need to be advanced further. The object of review to promote mountain research, and provide references material for regional differentiation, geographic regionalization and environmental change.