A review of some of the Chinese research on the anti-tumor properties of traditional Chinese herbal medicine (formulas, individual herbs and their extracts) is presented. Murine in-vivo and cellular in-vitro cancer model studies are presented of the effects of Chinese herbal medicine on cancer prevention and anti-mutanogenesis, cancer gene expression and nucleic acid metabolism, inhibition of tumor cell development, alteration of tumor cell membranes and information conduction, inhibition of tumor cell proliferation, reduction of tumor cell differentiation, induction of tumor cell apoptosis, enhancement of immune function and anti-cancer capabilities, inhibition of neovascularization to prevent tumor growth and metastasis, improvement of the physical and chemical properties of blood cells to prevent cancer cell metastasis, blocking cancer cell cycles, inhibition of telomerase activity, reversal of drug resistance and enhancement of the effectiveness of chemotherapy. The purpose of this review is to show the diversity of research in China, stimulate new ideas about cancer therapy and provide a foundation for further research and development of new anti-cancer drugs utilizing traditional Chinese medicines.