Abstract: With its prominent advantages of adapting to high water heads, shortening dam-passing time, saving energy without water consumption, and enabling flexible layout, the shiplift has gradually become a key navigation facility for overcoming concentrated water level drops in modern inland waterway navigation and water conservancy hub projects. This paper reviews the development history and system architecture of shiplift technology, focusing on analyzing the technical principles and engineering applicability of three mainstream shiplift types systematically. It concentrates on the structural design, construction manufacturing, and safety assurance of counterweight vertical shiplift (including rack and pinion vertical and wire rope hoist types)—which possess broad applicability and potential for large-scale development. Combined with typical projects like Three Gorges, Goupitang, and Baise shiplift, it details China's breakthroughs in ultra-large shiplift technologies. Addressing industry demands for ultra-high capacity, intelligent operation and maintenance, and green low-carbon solutions, this section projects three major technological trends: series-matrix layout, friction driven models, and intelligent monitoring and diagnostics. Research indicates that China's shiplift technology has achieved leapfrog development, transitioning from "following and introducing" to "leading and innovating." It has established an independent system featuring multiple parallel technical routes. In the future, this technology will provide critical equipment support for the construction of the national comprehensive three-dimensional transportation network and the Belt and Road Initiative, driving the technological advancement of global inland waterway shipping.