A folding type front hoisting machine lifting appliance comprises a truss main beam assembly, a rotary assembly, a pull rod folding and unfolding assembly, a folding retractable suspension arm and a suspension arm cross beam. The folding retractable suspension arm is connected with truss main beams at the two sides of the truss main beam assembly through the pull rod folding and unfolding assembly, and the suspension arm cross beam is rotationally connected with the folding retractable suspension arm. By means of the lifting appliance, a traditional cantilever type large-section suspension armis changed into a semi-truss mechanical structure composed of the small-section folding retractable suspension arm and a pull rod. The stress mode of each component is changed from bending stress bearing into tension-compression stress, the stress bearing density of the components is improved, the stress condition is improved, and the weight of the components is reduced. The lifting appliance isa new breakthrough of the lightweight research field of similar lifting appliances, the weight of the lifting appliance can be greatly reduced, the working load of a container crane is reduced, the working balance weight of the container crane is reduced, and the energy consumption is reduced.