Abstract: Lithium has become an important strategic critical metal in the world, and the granitic pegmatite type lithium deposit is one of the important types of lithium resources, which is also a popular interest in the current international ore deposit research. The granitic pegmatites are classified into LCT (Li–Cs–Ta), NYF (Nb–Y–F) and mixed LCT+NYF type. The LCT type pegmatites are characterized by enrichment of rare elements Li, Rb, Cs, Be, Ga, Sn, Ta＞Nb and fluxing components B, P, F, usually related to late orogenic and post–orogenic peraluminous S–type granites in extensional background. In this paper, we review the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of pegmatite type lithium deposits in the world. It is noted that the lithium mineralization events mainly occurred in the middle and late period of convergent orogeny associated with the supercontinent assembly. The study shows that the spatial distribution of granitic pegmatite lithium deposits in China is relatively concentrated, mainly distributed in nine lithium metallogenic belts, of which the main mineralization period is Triassic. Fractional crystallization of granitic magma and partial melting of lower crust material are the two significant formation modes of pegmatites. The four metallogenic mechanism of rare metal pegmatite mainly include fractional crystallization, magmatic immiscibility, supercritical fluids and constitutional zone refining (CZR). We summarize the metallogenic characteristics, distribution characteristics, research progress and exploration prospect of the three typical pegmatite type lithium metallogenic belts, West Kunlun, Songpan–Ganze and Altay, in western China. The coupling relationship of structure–magmatism–metamorphism–mineralization is the key scientific problem that restricts the mineralization process and enrichment regularity of lithium.