Abstract: Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping has delivered a series of speeches, new ideas and measures to promote the development of Chinese think tanks. This has formed his Theory of Think Tanks, which is characterized by rich connotations, abundant theoretical implications, and distinct contemporary features.Using literature review and theoretical deduct method, this article primarily focuses on the study of the genesis, theoretical connotations, and prominent features of Xi Jinping's Theory of Think Tanks. The genesis of his Theory of Think Tanks has gone through the stages of germination and incubation, formal establishment, and in-depth maturation: inheriting the fine tradition of investigation and research during the genesis stage, strengthening the construction of Chinese characteristic new-type think tanks in the establishment stage, and actively exploring the national high-end think tanks in the maturation stage. The theoretical connotations of his Theory of Think Tanks includes the goal orientation of serving the democratic, scientific, and law-based decision-making of the party and the government, the development position of constructing Chinese characteristic new-type think tanks, the implementation plan of constructing distinct and institutionally innovative national high-end think tanks, and the distinctive measures catalyzed by the construction of a Chinese characteristic "revolving door" mechanism. Xi Jinping's Theory of Think Tanks, as both theoretical and action guide for the new type think tanks construction with Chinese characteristics, has pointed out the direction for the think tanks development in the new era, highlights the value demands of its development in the new era, clarifies the fundamental ways of its construction, and emphasizes that the new type think tanks construction with Chinese characteristics should be based on its mission and strengthen its responsibility in the new era.