Firstly, the researchbackground of the multibody system dynamics theory is presentedand shortcomings of the conventional methods for investigatingflexible multibody dynamics are illustrated. Secondly, theadvances in the absolute nodal coordinate method for the flexiblemultibody dynamics research over the last ten years aresystematically reviewed in terms of the following four aspects,i.e. the advances in the element researches, the numericalalgorithm researches, the researches on the dynamics of multibodysystems with nonlinear materials and the researches ofcorresponding applications. Finally, key topics for furtherresearch are pointed out.