The invention discloses a super-resolution photoacoustic imaging 
system and method based on a saturated 
absorption effect. The 
system comprises a 
laser emission module, a 
laser beam splitting / combining module and a 
signal acquisition / scanning imaging module; the 
laser beam splitting / combining module comprises a first 
beam splitting sheet, a first reflector, a 
chopper, a second reflector, a secondbeam splitting sheet, an optical 
delay unit and a vortex slide, wherein the first beam splitting sheet, the first reflector, the 
chopper, the second reflector and the second beam splitting sheet are connected in sequence to form a first 
optical branch. The first beam splitting sheet, the optical 
delay unit, the vortex slide and the second beam splitting sheet are connected in sequence to form a second 
optical branch; the first beam splitting sheet is connected with the laser emission module, and the second beam splitting sheet is connected with the 
signal acquisition / scanning imaging module. According to the invention, super-resolution photoacoustic imaging of a target object can be realized, super-resolution 
microscopy of non-fluorophores can be realized, an imaging sample cannot be damaged, and the authenticity of 
structural imaging and 
functional imaging is ensured.