Objective To explore the illness perception characteristics in elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and to provide reference for developing early detection and intervention strategies. Methods Using the Common-Sense Model of Self-regulation as theoretical framework,a descriptive qualitative study design was adopted. A purposive sample of 15 elderly individuals with MCI were recruited and received semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using directed qualitative content analysis. Results Seven themes and fifteen subthemes were identified: symptom identity, causes of illness, illness timeline, illness impact, cure and control, illness consistency, and emotional representation. Conclusion The illness perception in older people with MCI is generally insufficient, and there are some misunderstandings and negative perceptions.Healthcare professionals should pay attention to this issue and develop targeted intervention strategies to delay or reverse the progression of cognitive decline.