<p>With increasingly strict environmental regulations and growing awareness of the need for environmental protection, particulate matter (PM, mainly soot) emitted from diesel vehicles has drawn wide attention in recent years. A catalytic diesel particulate filter (CDPF) is an effective and widely applied after-treatment technology for removing soot, and a high-performance soot oxidation catalyst plays a key role in CDPF. In this paper, recent advances in the design strategies for outstanding soot oxidation catalysts are reviewed. Based on the characteristics of the soot oxidation reaction, the design strategies of soot oxidation catalysts are summarized from two aspects: improving the contact efficiency between soot and catalyst and greatly promoting the intrinsic activity of catalysts. Finally, an outlook regarding the current challenges and future development trends for soot oxidation catalysts is provided. This work will assist in understanding and designing high-performance soot oxidation catalysts.</p>