Objective To explore the effects of Zusanli acupoint hot pressing on improving appetite, cancer-related fatigue and quality of life in lung cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Methods Totally 60 lung cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy were randomized into a control group and an intervention group, with 30 patients in each group. The control group received routine nursing, while the intervention group additionally received Zusanli acupoint hot pressing from the 1st day of radiotherapy to 3 days after radiotherapy, 1 time for each day. The appetite, cancer-related fatigue and quality of life before and after the intervention between the two groups were compared. Results After the intervention, the aapetite of the intervention group was significantly better than that of the control group, and the degree of cancer-related fatigue was significantly milder than the control group (P<0.01 for both), when compared with quality of life, the subscale score of cognitive function, emotional function and role function, the score of fatigue, pain, nausea and vomiting symptom, and the score of general health status, loss of appetite, constipation and diarrhea were significantly better than those of the control group (P<0.05 for all). Conclusion Zusanli acupoint hot pressing is conducive to improving cancer-related fatigue and appetite for lung cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy, and increasing their quality of life.