Molecular characteristics and improving methods for thermal stability of enzyme have been considered. Intrinsic and extrinsic stabilizing mechanisms are two governing principles for enhanced thermal stability of enzyme in molecular basis. Factors contributing to the former and the latter mechanisms may be involved in the enhanced thermal stability of enzyme complementarily. Also, the methods for improving thermal stability of enzyme which comprise reaction in organic solvent system, chemical modification, immobilization, sequential unfolding and refolding, gene manipulation techniques and enzyme-antibody complexing are reviewed.