Abstract: The geological core drilling was focused in this research, and three core directions were investigated, including drilling rig equipment, coring technology, and intelligent technologies. Besides, the domestic and international current development status and future trends were summarized. In terms of drilling rig equipment, the technical characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, and market application patterns were sorted out for vertical shaft, full-hydraulic, top-drive, and portable drilling rigs. In terms of coring technology, the core advantages, limitations, and applicable scenarios of key technologies were analyzed, including wireline coring, reverse circulation continuous coring, pressure-retaining coring, and directional drilling coring. In terms of intelligent development, this research elaborated on the technical evolution, domestic and foreign R&D progress, and engineering application status of intelligent drilling rigs, intelligent drilling pipes, and intelligent drilling bits, and clarified the current technical bottlenecks faced by the industry. Full automation is the future direction of drilling technology. And domestic technologies are still in the catch-up phase on the integration of intelligent drilling bits and drilling pipes with sensors for real-time downhole monitoring, and are devoloping toward greater efficiency, precision, and intelligence. The key technical bottlenecks should be broken through in deep-sea operations and hard rock drilling in the future. The domestic and international development trends in drilling rigs, coring techniques, and intelligent systems were summarized based on research findings, and this research aims to provide references for future evolution of the drilling industry.