Based on review of current situation of public scientific literacy in China and international comparative studies, the paper puts forward the concept of "living science" and analyses the main characteristics of it: tightly connected with basic living demand; puts instrumental and practical result in the priority; gives importance to sensibility and perception; integrated with social knowledge; has inherent connection with cultural tradition deposition. If we can say that science is the refinement of everyday experience and thinking, then it's an essential way for public understanding of science to approach scholarly "academic science" from "living science" which emphasizes particularly on common sense. Moreover, it gives us an important imply: We need the "academic science" (R. K. Merton, UCDOS) together with "post-academic science" (J. Ziman, PLACE) as well as "living science" (BISSC) to conduct the public understanding and using of science roundly.