Abstract: The connotation of ecological thought of contemporary Chinese ecological novel creation mainly includes three aspects: caring for animals, love for the nature and harmony of all things. In the 1980s, writers engaged in the creation of ecological novels were divided into two groups, one seeking cultural root and the other protecting environment. The writers engaged in the creation of ecological novels in the 1990s are composed of two parts – the“old writers”from the 1980s and the“new writers.”There are new changes in the creation of ecological novels in the 21st century: more attention to the portrayal of the ecological protector, new criteria above the simple binary right-wrong criticism in the ideological connotation and value judgment, and notable improvement in artistic standard and aesthetic ability.

Key words: contemporary China, ecological novel, creation, outline