Abstract: Liver cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide and the third leading cause of cancer death. Partial hepatectomy and liver transplantation are the most effective therapies. However, postoperative tumor metastasis and recurrence are the main obstacles in the longterm survival. Liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) within cancer tissues are associated with tumor occurrence, proliferation and tolerance to current therapy and are regarded as the major root of metastasis and recurrence. Eradication of LCSCs is a novel therapy of liver cancer. In this review, surface markers of LCSCs and mechanisms of prometastasis and recurrence, circulating LCSCs, microenvironment of LCSCs and their roles in the metastasis and relapse are summarized.