The real estate investment trust (REIT) as a new tool of real estate investment is introduced in this paper by the way of analyzing the status quo of real estate circulation funds. The importance of developing REIT in China is analyzed. Referring to the foreign experience, the basic principles, classification of REIT and the different characteristics for the investors and the real estate companies are introduced. The difficulties in developing REIT in the capital market and in the investment market in China are discussed. The countermeasures to deal with the situation are presented. REIT is valuable in forming the real estate investment market and healthy development of real estate.