Bassanite (CaSO₄·0.5H₂O) is a kind of common traditional material used in cultural relic restoration. It has been applied to the restoration of cultural relics, either as a single component or in mixtures with other materials and shown its applicability to cultural relics with a variety of textures. The methods of application of CaSO₄·0.5H₂O, either as a single component or mixed with other materials, to cultural relics restoration were analyzed. The methods involving mixed materials can be divided into six types. In view of the appearance of high strength CaSO₄·0.5H₂O and other new materials, the development trend of CaSO₄·0.5H₂O are also prospected.