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The purpose of this research was to investigate how different bile acids impact lipid metabolism and carcass characteristics in finishing pigs, along with the potential mechanisms involved. Twenty-one finishing pigs (DLY; average BW = 144.38 ± 8.92 kg) were assigned to three dietary treatments, with each treatment containing seven replicates, each consisting of one pig. The three dietary treatments included: a basic diet, a basic diet supplemented with 500 mg/kg of hyodeoxycholic acid (HDCA), and a basic diet supplemented with 500 mg/kg of lithocholic acid (LCA). The trial lasted for 28 d. Hyodeoxycholic acid was used in the in vitro experiments and added to mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes for 4 d to elucidate the mechanism by which bile acids regulate lipid metabolism. The results suggested that HDCA tended to decrease backfat thickness in finishing pigs (P= 0.094) and reduced the size of lipid droplets in 3T3-L1 adipocytes (P= 0.012), whereas LCA increased backfat thickness (P= 0.016) and induced larger lipid droplets in the abdominal adipose tissue (P= 0.003). Furthermore, HDCA enhanced the expression of Takeda G-protein-coupled receptor 5 protein and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) gene in backfat of pigs (P< 0.05) and increased the protein expression of phosphorylated HSL (p-HSL) in vitro (P= 0.093). Compared to HDCA, LCA addition increased the gene and protein expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma in backfat of pigs (P< 0.05) and enhanced the expression of hepatic genes sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c and fatty acid synthase (P< 0.05). In conclusion, HDCA enhanced lipolysis and partially decreased backfat thickness in finishing pigs, while LCA promoted lipid synthesis and increased backfat thickness of pigs. The variations in the effects of various bile acids on bile acid receptors could explain these functional differences.