The invention relates to a preparation method of roxadustat. In the method, methyl 4-hydroxy-7-phenoxyisoquinoline-3-formate and N,N,N',N'-tetramethyldiaminomethane as raw materials are reacted in glacial acetic acid and methyl 1-((dimethylamino) methyl)-4-hydroxy-7-phenoxyisoquinoline-3-carboxylate is obtained after the reaction is finished; the obtained methyl 1-((dimethylamino) methyl)-4-hydroxy-7-phenoxyisoquinoline-3-carboxylate is dissolved into glacial acetic acid, zinc is added, diluted hydrochloric acid is added, and after the reaction is finished, methyl 4-hydroxy-1-methyl-7-phenoxyisoquinoline-3-carboxylate is obtained; the obtained methyl 4-hydroxy-1-methyl-7-phenoxyisoquinoline-3-carboxylate is mixed with glycine, and dissolved into methanol, sodium methoxide is added, and after the reaction is finished, the target product roxadustat is obtained. The method is mild in reaction condition, simple and controllable in operation, low in preparation cost and suitable for large-scale industrial production, the obtained target product is high in purity, and the production requirements of enterprises are met.