This paper systematically reviews the research progress on the flow characteristics of bubble plumes from three aspects: theoretical models, behavioral characteristics, and flow field properties. In terms of theoretical models, it reviews the development process from early single-phase plume models to modern integral models that incorporate bubble swarm dynamics, stratified environments, and line-source effects, elucidating key mechanisms such as buoyancy-driven flow, fluid entrainment, and bubble slip. Regarding behavioral characteristics, this paper summarizes experimental and numerical simulation findings on the diffusion laws, oscillation characteristics, and wall-attachment effects of bubble plumes. For flow field properties, it reviews advances in utilizing experimental measurement techniques (e.g., PIV and PTV) and numerical simulations to reveal flow field information, including three-dimensional velocity fields, turbulent structures, and bubble distributions. It is pointed out that future research directions for bubble plumes should include integrating artificial intelligence algorithms, incorporating complex physical processes such as bubble deformation, coalescence, and breakup, deepening the theoretical models for line-source bubble plumes, improving the characterization of three-dimensional flow fields, and enhancing the prediction accuracy of pollutant interception.