It was designed to fill a gap in payload capacities between the Long March 3A and 3B.

The payload for the first launch was the Tianlian I-01 data relay communications satellite.

The fourth carrying the Compass-G3 navigation satellite was launched on 2 June 2010.

On 1 October 2010, it successfully launched China's second lunar probe, Chang'e 2.

An enhanced version, named Long March 3C/E, debuted during the launch of Chang'e 5-T1 on 23 October 2014.