Objective To study the technical characteristics, clinical outcomes and short- and long-term results of minimally invasive multi-vessel coronary artery bypass grafting and to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy. Methods From April 2012 to December 2014, minimally invasive cardiac surgery for coronary artery bypass grafting (MICS CABG) in 11 patients was performed in the First Hospital of China Medical University. All patients were males and the average age was 62.7 (47.0-73.0) years. Eight patients with 3-vessel lesions and 3 patients with 2-vessel lesions. General anesthesia was performed with double lumen endotracheal intubation and single lung ventilation. The patient was positioned 15 degrees to 30 degrees in right lateral position. The left anterior and lateral incision was made at the fourth/fifth intercostal space with the length of 5-7 cm and 2/3 part of the incision located in the medial side of anterior axillary line. Left internal thoracic artery (LIMA) was harvested from the third intercostal space up to the subclavian vein and down to more than fifth intercostal space through the surgical window. Through the xiphoid and sixth intercostal space incision with the length of 1 cm, the Starfish and Octopus system were placed to fix apex and ascending aorta and target vessels were exposed. The proximal and distal anastomosis was done under the direct vision. The sequence of distal anastomosis was from posterior descending branch to obtuse/diagonal branch and left anterior descending branch. The chest and pericardial draining tubes were placed through the xiphoid and sixth intercostal space incision. Results The mean operation time was 4.1 (3.2–5.8) h. Five patients underwent the operation with the assist of cardiopulmonary bypass and the mean assisting time was 21.0 (17.0-38.0 ) min. The mean number of distal anastomosis was 2.8 (2.0-3.0) and LIMA was harvested and grafted in all 11 patients. The mean drainage was 425.0 (180.0-750.0) ml, mean ventilation time 7.8 (4.3-11.2) h, ICU stay 15.9 (11.0-38.0) h, and hospital time 7.7 (5.0-14.0) d. There was no operative death and re-exploration for bleeding. One patient was complicated by paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and one patient myocardial infarction. The average follow-up was 19.4 (12.0-36.0) months, and no chest pain, re-admission or re-intervention happened. Coronary artery CT angiographies demonstrated that all LIMAs were patent and 4 vein grafts were occluded and venous graft patency rate was 80.0% one year after surgery. Conclusion MICS CABG has the advantage of quick recovery, good cosmetic effect and low incision infection rate compared to the conventional CABG. Compared with robotic surgery, the cost of MICS CABG is low and the same as that of the conventional CABG. It is a new kind of CABG and could be performed following the learning curve under strict training of doctors and careful patient selection. With the good short- and middle-term results, MICS CABG needs to be evaluated for long-term graft patency rate, re-revascularization rate, and clinical evidence.