Open and distance education (ODE) has played a key role in contributing to the growth of Chinese higher education (HE) ever since the mid-1950s. This study sets out to examine the key events of ODE in China, focusing on two main strands of ODE development -- the Chinese radio and television/open university system and campus-based universities. Innovative practices from the Chinese ODE community are critiqued, in particular those from the ODE ecosystem and the impacts of ODE on Chinese HE are examined in terms of massification of HE, mainstreaming openness in HE, and the synergetic interaction between ODE and campus-based education. Lessons from the 70-year history of Chinese open and distance higher education are discussed and directions for future development are suggested, ranging from the balance of government support and university autonomy, continuing commitment to access and equity, focus on sustainable development, emphasis on skilling and re-skilling to underscoring lifelong learning for the third age and fit-for-purpose use of technology. Notwithstanding its highly contextualized nature, this study arguably has implications for the international HE community, especially ODE institutions.