The cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera is a major pest that poses a serious threat to global crop production. This article reviews the population dynamics and damage caused by the pest in China over the past 70 years, as well as the research progress in its biology, ecology, monitoring and early warning, and control technologies. In general, the cotton bollworm in China was in a mild occurrence period from the 1950s to the 1970s, entered a severe occurrence stage caused by chemical pesticide resistance from the 1980s to the 1990s, and has declined to a moderate occurrence period after the planting of Bt cotton since 2000. As a pest suitable for semi-arid environments, the occurrence patterns and severity of the insect in different climate regions of China are influenced by various factors such as crop varieties and planting structures, temperature and rainfall, the richness of natural enemies, and pesticide use. The cotton bollworm has differentiated into geographical types adapted to different climate zones in China. Combined with the climatic characteristics of the East Asian monsoon circulation, it has formed a geographical type-facultative migratory regional distribution pattern. To ensure the healthy development of national agriculture, China has established a monitoring and early warning network based on information technologies such as insect radar and intelligent insect traps, and has developed and applied a green control technology system based on Bt crops and ecological regulation, providing important scientific and technological support for the sustainable control of its occurrence and damage, and also providing a successful case and referenceable experiences for the green control of other major pests. This article also looks forward to the potential impact of climate change and other factors on the population dynamics of the pest, as well as the role of biotechnology and artificial intelligence in its control.