With the municipal solid waste treatment system shifting from end-of-pipe landfilling to reduction, resource recycling, and systematic governance, the demand for managing existing municipal solid waste landfills becomes increasingly prominent. However, significant differences exist among landfills in different regions and of various types in terms of environmental risks, governance objectives, and implementation conditions. This study reviews the developmental trajectory, spatial distribution patterns, evolution of governance policies, and governance approaches of municipal solid waste landfills in China, and analyzes the governance constraints and differentiated needs of landfills across different regions and types. The study suggests that the governance of municipal solid waste landfills should take into account regional differences, type-specific differences, and differences in development stages. Relying solely on the "one landfill, one policy" approach is insufficient to meet the requirements of national-level coordinated governance. Accordingly, this study recommends optimizing governance priorities and resource allocation based on regional differences, strengthening tailored measures to achieve precise matching between governance pathways and landfill types, and exploring the concept of "dynamic compensation of pollutants in municipal solid waste landfills" to promote an overall reduction in the environmental load of regional landfill systems. The findings can provide a reference for optimizing China's municipal solid waste landfill governance policies and improving its differentiated governance system.