Objective To analyse the effect of experimental skills training for research of academic graduate students of traditional Chinese medicine, clarify their training needs and improvement direction. Methods From October to November of 2018, a questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate the experimental skills training for research of 146 academic graduate students of traditional Chinese medicine from 2014 to 2017 in Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were conducted to process the questionnaire data. Results Small class training can improve graduate students research skills (χ²=11.280,P<0.01), accelerate project progress (χ²=9.271,P<0.01) and enhance research interests (χ²=10.491,P<0.01). The longer graduate students were trained in the central laboratory, the better research project progress (χ²=22.822,P<0.01;trend χ²＝14.896,P<0.01) and research interests (χ²=18.576,P<0.01;trend χ²＝14.887,P<0.01) and skills (χ²=16.797,P<0.01;trend χ²＝8.574,P<0.01) was enhanced. The training components in the small class training were regarded as helpful by 64.0%-85.7% students. Adding the deep training items were considered necessary by 57.3%-89.8% students. There was no significant difference in the assessment between students for master's degree and for doctoral degree and nor their undergraduate and graduate period when they were surveyed. Conclusions Graduate students' participation in small class training and entering the central laboratory to carry out project research are conducive to the improvement of their research skills, progress of research projects and interest in Lab research. The training components meet the requirements but need to be updated.