Lignin is one of the three main components of lignocellulose and the most abundant natural aromatic polymer on the earth. Potentially, lignin can be converted into high-value aromatic chemicals to replace the non-renewable fossil resources by catalytic degradation. It has become one of the hottest topics in the related field. In this paper, lignin and its model compounds transformed into aromatics based on catalytical depolymerisation and the recent developments regarding the catalytic depolymerization of lignin are summarized. The mechanism and the composition of aromatic products of depolymerizaiton were also summarized. Morever, the methods for lignin depolymerisation are analysed and evaluated and the key research point for lignin to aromatic hydrocarbons are pointed out. The development and synthesis of highly efficient, highly selective as well as cost efficient catalysts are play an important role in breaking the bottle-neck of lignin depolymerisation to aromatics.