To address the significant limitations of using urban rail transit for freight transport and the lack of large-scale operation despite the gradual launch of pilot urban rail freight projects in some cities, this paper presents a systematic statistical analysis of the current status of urban rail freight in China based on a synthesis of existing practices and research. First, three typical operation modes are summarized: mixed passenger-freight transport, shared-line trailer operation, and shared-line separated operation. Second, using statistical data from 18 pilot cities, a quantitative analysis is conducted from three perspectives: spatial distribution, temporal evolution, and comparison of pilot projects in representative cities. Finally, the main challenges in the development of urban rail freight are examined, and corresponding development strategies are summarized. The results indicate that urban rail freight projects in China exhibit a spatial pattern radiating from the eastern coastal regions to hub cities in central and western China, with high concentrations in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the Yangtze River Delta; urban rail freight is transitioning from the initial exploration stage to large-scale pilot implementation, with the number of pilot projects increasing year by year; most pilot cases adopt the mixed passenger-freight mode, a few use the shared trailer mode, and operations are mostly scheduled during off-peak passenger hours. Urban rail freight can effectively utilize idle capacity, alleviate urban logistics pressure, and promote green development, but it still faces challenges such as incompatibility of existing infrastructure, operational scheduling complexity, poor connectivity, inadequate safety control, data barriers, and profitability difficulties. The development trend of urban rail freight points toward the coordinated advancement of line retrofitting, market-oriented mechanisms, the construction of an integrated ground-air distribution system, and technological innovation.