Popular scientific magazines in Germany are divided into three categories: comprehensive, subject-oriented and research society journals. The comprehensive magazines are Bild der Wissenschaft, GEO, P.M. Welt des Wissens, Spektrum der Wissenschaft, Technology Review, Welt der Wunder, Wunderwelt Wissen, H rzu Wissen, Wissen & Staunen and Wissen. Subject-oriented magazines include Chemie in unserer Zeit, Biologie in unserer Zeit, Physik in unserer Zeit, Sterne und Weltraum, Spcace, Interstellarum, Gehirn und Geist, Psychologie Heute, Natur and National Geographic Deutschland. Research society journals MaxPlanckForschung, weiter.vorn, Helmholtz Perspektiven and Leibniz-Journal are published from the Max Plank Society, the Fraunhofer Society, the Helmholtz Association and the Leibniz Association, respectively. Typical features of the German popular scientific magazines are: relatively short history, brand promotion through cover styling, uncreative new magazine names, high premium on young generations, frequent application of illustrations, co-existence of national and international brands, participation of research societies and overlook of chemistry topics. These are reflecting both positive and negative aspects. The positive ones could be applied for the further development of popular scientific publications in China.