Shrinkage cracking of concrete is a major technical problem that has long plagued the engineering. Reducing the shrinkage of concrete by the use of chemical admixtures is a convenient and cost-effective way to improve the crack resistance of concrete structures. This article mainly introduces the research and application status of chemical admixtures for shrinkage reducing and crack resistance of concrete. Firstly, the causes of shrinkage and cracking of concrete were briefly introduced. Then, the research and application progress of different types of chemical admixtures corresponding to different types of shrinkage were summarized, and the technical challenges and further research requirements were pointed out. It aims to provide reference for the research, development and application of this kind of chemical admixtures.