In the past half-century, surface plasmon resonance in noble metallic nanoparticles has been an important research subject. Recent advances in the synthesis, assembly, characterization, and theories of traditional and non-traditional metal nanostructures open a new pathway to the kaleidoscopic applications of plasmonics. However, accurate and precise models of plasmon resonance are still challenging, as its characteristics can be affected by multiple factors. We herein summarize the recent advances of plasmonic nanoparticles and their applications, particularly regarding the fundamentals and applications of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in Au nanoparticles, plasmon-enhanced upconversion luminescence, and plasmonic chiral metasurfaces.