Integrated pest management (IPM) is defined as a holistic ‘approach’, or ‘strategy’, of combatting plant pests with minimal applications of chemical pesticides. Rather than relying on a single control method, it involves integrating a diverse range of pest control techniques into the agroecosystem, which requires in depth understanding of the interactions between these techniques. This paper reviews recent advances in IPM both at home and abroad. Four fundamental principles of pest control, four control strategies and three technological innovations, have been developed since the 1950’s. A five step prioritization scheme for pest management with five levels associated with 11 scientific problems in the integration process have been advanced for managing pests more effectively. We emphasize that pest management should comply with the crop protection principle of "prevention first, making ecology a priority and using integrated management", and the use of “ecologically friendly, effective, economic and simple” methods. Thus, we propose that IPM should integrate and optimize all available control elements such as ecological tactics, modern biotechnology, as well as biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools, into the agroecosystem to achieve economic profitability, ecological sustainability and social acceptability.