During the fighting against COVID-19, both the public health education and public health workforce of China have exposed important challenges. The present review discusses dilemmas and weakness that relate to the position of public health education in the higher education system, public health education system, curriculum system, teaching methods, practice-based teaching, training of highly qualified personnel in public health, public health teachers, remuneration and non-monetary honorable rewards for the public health workforce. Suggestions are also proposed for each of the challenges.