With the increasing depletion of traditional fossil fuels, new energy sources such as wind and solar power become the main energy sources for building new power systems. Distributed energy resources including wind and solar power, exhibit strong characteristics of randomness, volatility, and intermittency. Their large scale grid integration poses many challenges to the stable operation of the power grid. Virtual power plant (VPP) which possess a strong ability to aggregate and regulate various types of resources, can participate in grid operation and scheduling, thereby promoting the consumption of clean energy. This article first summarizes the definition of VPP and provides an overview of the current research status both domestically and internationally. It also reviews the current status and trends of energy development in China. Secondly, the control methods and architecture of VPP are summarized, and the current VPP models are classified into four categories: VPP optimization scheduling model, VPP participation in bidding and tendering model, VPP participation in demand-side response model, and VPP model considering system risk. Various algorithms for solving VPP models are reviewed. Finally, the future prospects of VPP are discussed, especially the economic benefits of VPP participation in the electricity market. This article provides a comprehensive summary and generalization of the current research on VPP, offering references for future research in this field.