This review focuses on the growing popularity of using counter-current chromatography (CCC), with its liquid stationary phase, as one of the prime methods for isolating compounds from Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs). 198 publications are reviewed covering 108 different plant species from 56 plant families. These describe the isolation of 354 different molecules across a wide range of polarities, chemical classes and molecular weights (in the range 100-1000 Da). The suitability of CCC for the separation of active compounds from CHM, the phase systems used, how CCC has developed in China, compounds isolated, CCC instrumentation, performance, operational issues and innovations, all supported by detailed cross-referencing, are described. It is concluded that CCC is making an increasingly important contribution to the modernisation of Chinese herbal medicines.