The　up-to-date　progress　in　the　additive　manufacturing　technology　has　been　fully　reviewed　in　this　article,　and　the　associated　opportunity　&　challenges　were　also　discussed.　It　has　been　proposed　that　the　future　directions　of　the　additive　manufacturing　technology　should　be　focused　on　the　nonequilibrium　solidification　of　the　metal　printing,　the　novel　theory　development　of　manufacturing　under　extreme　conditions,　additive　manufacturing　of　materials　&　structure　in-gradient,　the　regeneration　and　functionalization　of　the　engineered　scaffolds,　theory　of　life　science　etc.　Constructive　ideas　should　be　encouraged,　to　be　led　by　technical　progress,　to　be　driven　by　technological　innovation,　and　to　be　targeted　by　the　industrial　development,　aiming　to　provide　the　solid　foundation　for　the　innovative　national　construction.　©　2020,　China　Mechanical　Engineering　Magazine　Office.　All　right　reserved.