China has made rapid progress from fundamental research to industrial translation in polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) biomanufacturing, with polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and its copolymers as representative products. Propelled by the national “dual carbon” strategy, Chinese researchers and enterprises have developed unconventional halophilic chassis and next-generation industrial biotechnology (NGIB) to reduce the sterilization burden of conventional fermentation and enable open, continuous, and unsterile production. This review focuses on the NGIB-centered PHA/PHB landscape in China while also noting alternative chassis, established producers, downstream compounders, and emerging competitors. Future development will require not only C1 feedstock utilization, AI-assisted engineering, and life cycle material circularity, but also objective management of high-salt process risks such as corrosion and saline wastewater treatment.