Helium is a critical rare gas essential for aerospace, medical devices, and semiconductor production. With about 85% of its helium coming from imports, China’s advancement of exploration and development technologies is vital for national resource security. This study analyzes helium-related publications from CNKI (2000–2025) using advanced data visualization and statistical methods. It introduces a three-pronged approach–data-driven analysis, visual representation, and mechanistic explanation–to offer the first comprehensive examination of China’s helium exploration and development research, revealing its evolution and current state from multiple perspectives and providing fresh insights. By examining publication trends, institutional contributions, and evolving research priorities, the study maps the knowledge structure, tracks shifts in focus, and evaluates technological maturity in helium exploration and development, considering spatial and temporal dimensions. The research identifies three phases in China’s helium research since 2000: initial emergence, fluctuating growth, and recent explosive expansion, and points out that the fast development is driven by government policies, technological breakthroughs, global supply chain shifts, and surging market demand. Universities, petroleum companies, and geological survey organizations each contribute unique expertise to the research landscape, fostering collaboration, with leading institutions exerting significant influence. Key research areas include helium reservoir formation, accumulation patterns, resource assessment, basin studies, and technology evaluation, evolving dynamically over time. Future efforts should focus on strengthening fundamental research and driving technological innovation to secure China’s helium supply. This study offers a comprehensive overview of the research landscape, providing essential guidance for future investigations and national resource strategies.
LI et al. (Wed,) studied this question.