Oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) is one of the head and neck cancers. According to epidemiological data, the incidence and mortality of OPC in China are increasing. In addition to tobacco and alcohol, human papillomavirus (HPV) has been proved to be one of the causes of OPC. Chinese scholars have also confirmed the correlation between HPV and OPC in China, but the proportion of HPV infection in OPC in China still needs a larger sample. Because lots of studies have shown that the efficacy and prognosis of HPV-related OPC are better, the treatment of this type of patients is the current research hotspot. Meanwhile, HPV vaccine and the screening method for HPV infection in the oropharynx or oral cavity of the population deserve further research.