The current status of research and application in the AZ(Mg-Al-Zn), AS(Mg-Al-Si), AE(Mg-Al-RE), AX(Mg-Al-Ca), ACM or MRI (Mg-Al-Ca-RE) and AJ (Mg-Al-Sr) series elevated temperature magnesium alloys are reviewed, will special attention paid to the effects of alloying elements and the control of second phases. The existing problems on the development of elevated temperature magnesium alloys are discussed.