Graphene zinc coatings had the characteristics of new material，new mechanism and excellent performance，which had become an important innovation breakthrough in the coating industry. The article reviewed the technological development and application status of graphene zinc coatings. The unique atomic layer structure and impermeability of graphene，as well as its excellent mechanical，thermal and electrical properties，contributed to a new protective mechanism of graphene zinc coatings. The physical shielding effect of graphene，the activation effect of zinc powder，and the enhancement of mechanical strength played a dominant role in high-performance graphene zinc coatings. The graphene zinc coatings prioritized physical shielding as the dominant protection mechanism，there was a fundamentally different from the traditional epoxy zinc-rich coatings which prioritized cathodic protection mechanism. Graphene zinc coatings had shown significant advantages in corrosion resistance，mechanical properties，construction performance，as well as in saving zinc powder metal resources and energy saving and greenhouse gas emissionsreduction. Graphene low zinc coatings and graphene zinc powder double coatings had moreinnovative advantages. This article summarized the recent application cases and current status ofgraphene zinc coatings in fields such as bridges，wind power，chemical engineering， hydropower，construction，and containers. Finally，the development trend of graphene zinccoating technology and its application to replace traditional epoxy zinc-rich coatings were pointedout，as well as the technological innovation value of long-term protection of steel structure.