Abstract: China’s Central Asian studies has achieved great progress since the independence of Central Asian countries 30 years ago, but it still has some shortcomings. One significant shortcoming is the gap between theoretical and policy research. This article suggests that the comparative area studies that has emerged in recent years may help strengthen China’s Central Asian studies. Comparative area studies includes three comparative methods: intra -regional, inter-regional, andcross-regional comparison. Firstly, the similar courses of national developments shared by the five Central Asian countries provide an opportunity for scholars to compare the intra-regional internal affairs and diplomacy; moreover, for being in the same regional security complex and facing the similar regional structures, Central Asia and the Caucasus are ideal cases for inter-regional comparisons; lastly, the ‘color revolutions’ and the Islamic culture influence both in Central Asia and the Middle East provide conditions for cross-regional comparison. Thus, using comparative area research approaches can expand the research horizons of Central Asian studies and promote academic exchanges between Central Asian studies and other social sciences, such as political science, etc.