The great potential of gold catalysts for chemical conversions in both industrial and environmental concerns has attracted increasing interest in many fields of research. Gold nanoparticles supported by metal oxides with high surface area have been recognized as highly efficient and effective green heterogeneous catalyst even at room temperature under normal reaction conditions, in gas and liquid phase reactions. In the present review, we discuss the recent development of heterogeneous, supported monometallic gold catalysts for organic transformations emphasizing mainly liquid phase hydrogenation reactions. Discussions on the catalytic synthesis procedures and the promoting effect of other noble metals are omitted since they are already worked out. Applications of heterogeneous, supported monometallic catalysts for chemoselective hydrogenations in liquid phase are studied including potential articles during the period 2000-2013. (C) 2014 The Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, and Chemical Industry Press. All rights reserved.