Basic concepts and applications about XMCD absorption spectroscopy were reviewed. One may deduce the spin magnetic moments

orbital magnetic moments and magnetic structure anisotropies of magnetic elements according to sum rules of XMCD. Magnetic films

ultra - thin films and sandwich films can be studied by XMCD

in which there are distinguishing features from that of bulk samples. By now

XMCD has combined with other techniques

such as

microscopy

EXAFS/XAFS

to extend magnetic researches. The design of the beamline and endstation of soft X ray magnetic circular dichroism at the National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory and its present development were introduced.