Objective To search for the evidence of exercise-based rehabilitation for heart failure patients, and to summarize the best evidence. Methods We searched the databases of BMJ Best Practice, Joanna Briggs Institute(JBI), Guidelines International Network (GIN), Registered Nurses′ Association of Ontario (RNAO), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence(NICE)，Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), Cochrane Library, PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, CBM, CNKI, WanFang Data and VIP, to collect relevant guidelines, expert consensus, evidence summaries, practice recommendations，systematic reviews. Two researchers independently assessed the quality of the literature and extracted data. Results A total of 15 publications were selected, including 8 guidelines, 2 expert consensus statements, 4 systematic reviews and 1 practice recommendation. Finally, best evidence regarding the overall requirements of exercise-based rehabilitation (10 aspects totaling 18 pieces of evidence) and specific exercises (5 kinds, totaling 17 pieces of evidence) were summarized. Conclusions Regular exercise is safe and beneficial in patients with stable chronic heart failure （function capacity Ⅰ-Ⅲ）, and individualized combination of both aerobic and resistance training is recommended after a comprehensive and detailed evaluation of the patients. High-intensity intermittent aerobic exercise may be recomm ended if it is tolerable and safe for patients. Some patients with function capacity Ⅳ can take exercise, but there is no corresponding evidence for the determination of specific population, implementation of exercise program and safety.