Objective To find out the situation of cold chain in food circulation in Hongkou district. Method Investigating the cold chain facilities and the administration of hypermarkets, chain supermarkets and fair trade markets in Hongkou district. Results Cold chain facilities for transporting and storing foods in food enterprises are simple and crude. The problems of storing and selling perishable food are serious. Conclusion Increasing input, setting up uniformed and comprehensive standards, enhancing supervision and guiding the application of cold chain in food circulation are necessary.