Abstract: Gastric cancer is globally ranked fifth and fourth in terms of incidence and mortality, respectively. Gastric linitis plastica is a special type of gastric cancer that is macroscopically characterized by segmental or diffuse thickening and gastric wall stiffening. Microscopically, it is characterized by scattered low-adhesion tumor cells or signet-ring cells, in addition to diffuse fibro-stromal proliferation and infiltration. Gastric linitis plastica progressed rapidly and patients with gastric linitis plastica had a poor prognosis. Most patients were at an advanced disease stage with occult peritoneal metastasis at diagnosis. The median postoperative survival duration was only 6–14 months. Radical surgery is the most important treatment approach for patients with gastric linitis plastica. However, more than of half of the patients cannot undergo radical surgery at diagnosis. Recent comprehensive treatment modalities are centered on surgery, including surgery combined with preoperative neoadjuvant therapy or postoperative adjuvant therapy, and are being increasingly applied to treat gastric linitis plastica. The novel discovery of the underlying molecular pathways also provides a direction for further research on immunotherapy and targeted therapy.