The definitions of extreme weather/climate events and "climate extreme" are discussed in the paper. On the basis of classifying the extreme events into four categories (namely extremes caused by variations in a single variable, events related to weather phenomena,compound events and climate extremes), the related extreme indices as well as their trends and corresponding impacts under the background of global warming are summarized. The results showed that intense precipitation events over mid-lower reaches of the Yangtze River tend to be more frequent. Heat waves in eastern China are stronger and drought trend in northeast China and northern China, especially at the end of 20th century and at the beginning of 21 century, is increasing. Furthermore, drought events are frequent in southwest China over recent ten years. In order to minimize losses caused by the increasing meteorological disasters, it is extraordinary essential to strengthen the capability in monitoring and warning of high-impact extremes. Meanwhile, it is also necessary to strengthen engineering defense measures based on changes in extreme events to prevent flash floods and urban waterlogged disasters induced by intense precipitation as well as droughts and heat waves associated with insufficient precipitation.