Z-pinch fusion fission hybrid reactor (Z-FFR) is a disruptive technology in China's advanced nuclear energy field, which is expected to be the first to achieve fusion energy break-even in the engineering sense and lead the development of advanced nuclear energy. The development situation of nuclear energy is firstly analyzed in this paper, including the current development status of advanced fission reactors and the technical and economic challenges of fusion energy development, and it is pointed out that integrated sodium-cooled fast reactor and Z-FFR have the greatest potential for development. Then, an overview of the basic principles, realization conditions, technical characteristics of Z-pinch fusion, and the research results of Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics in Z-pinch driver and fusion physics is provided in details. Finally, the differences between Z-FFR and traditional hybrid reactors are compared with emphasis on the Z-FFR design features, research results, advancements, and future development prospective.