The 24th International Society of Heterocyclic Chemistry Congress (24th ISHC-Congress) was held at the Shanghai International Convention Center between 8 and 13 September 2013 by the International Society of Heterocyclic Chemistry (ISHC), and the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry. Under the theme of Heterocycles for Better Life, the ISHC-Congress invited over 1000 participants from both academic and industry. The ISHC-Congress  had major topics: Heterocyclic Natural Products, Synthesis of Heterocycles and Heterocycles for Synthesis, Bioactive Heterocycles, and Functional Heterocycles.