In the world General Social Survey family, the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) is the youngest (the South Korean General Social Survey started at the same year as theChinese General Survey, but two months earlier than the Chinese General Social Survey). But in China mainland, the CGSS is the earliest national representative continuous survey project run by academic institution. The history of the CGSS has reflected radical transition of Chinese society and change for Chinese behavior and attitude.

The Department of Sociology of the Renmin University of China and the Survey Research Center of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology jointly launched the CGSS in 2003. Li Lulu of RUC and Bian Yanjie of HKUST act as Co-PIs ofthe CGSS.  Besides these two institutions, there were 7 departments of Sociology of other academic institutions undertook the fieldwork. They are Nankai University, Jilin University, Lanzhou University, Nanjing University, Wuhan University, Zhongshan University，and Shanghai Social Science Academy.  From the beginning, the CGSS is a joint work of academic community. Sponsored by RUC 211 and 985 Grant and HKUST Central Allocation Grant from the Universities Grants Committee of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, these two institutions committed 5 annual surveys in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2008.  From 2003 to 2008, this phase is Cycle I of the CGSS.  Since 2010, the CGSS has been committed by National Survey Research Center at Renmin University of China (NSRC), sponsored by RUC 985 Grant and RUC Scientific Research Grant.  Li Lulu has been acting as PI.  As plan NSRC will annually commit fieldwork for the CGSS from 2010 to 2019, this phase is Cycle II of the CGSS. By now, the CGSS has finished 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 fieldwork for Cycle II.

In 2006, together with the Korean General Social Survey (KGSS), the Japanese General Social Survey (JGSS), and the Taiwan Social Change Survey (TSCS), the CGSS jointly initiated the East Asian Social Survey (EASS) project. The CGSS committed the EASS Family module in 2006, Globalization module in 2008, Health module in 2010, and Social Network & Social Capital module in 2012.  Work and Economy module is on design stage and is supposed to be committed in 2015.   The CGSS was accepted as member on behalf of China mainland by the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP).  By 2013, the CGSS has committed Religion; Social Inequality; Environment; Health; Family, work and Gender Roles modules of ISSP.