The work aims to analyze research hotspots and trends in cold chain logistics globally, to offer insights for researchers. With Citespace as a tool, core journal articles (2006-2023) from CNKI and WOS were analyzed. Through various methods including publication trend analysis, institutional analysis, journal analysis, keyword co-occurrence, clustering analysis, burst term detection, and timeline visualization, the current research status, focus points, and evolutionary trends in the field were comprehensively explored. Key findings include fluctuating growth since 2010, with established research clusters domestically and internationally. Hotspots focus on agricultural e-commerce logistics, food safety, distribution optimization, cold chain strategies, phase change materials, and pharmaceutical cold chains. Emerging terms are "cold storage materials" and "cold chain food" in China, and "phase change material (PCM)," "fresh agricultural product," and "carbon dioxide" globally. Research evolution of cold chain logistics comprises exploration (2006-2010), rapid development (2011-2015), e-commerce-driven (2016-2020), and technology-driven (2021-present) stages. Current trends emphasize efficiency-boosting technologies, low-carbon cold chains, and interdisciplinary education.