As the People’s Republic of China plays an increasingly important role in international politics and
trade, countries with economic interests there find they need to know more about this nation. Access to
primary information sources, including official statistics from China, however, is very limited, as little
exploration has been done into this closely controlled repository of information. This study explores
major current statistical sources in China through examining (a) the statistical system in Chinese
government, (b) the mechanism of statistical data collection, and (c) what statistical information is
currently available in both print and electronic format and at what level. It shows that a wealth of
statistical information does exist in China, it is systematically compiled, and it is available, although
not conveniently, to the public through various channels. This study can serve the need for China’s
data from the academic and business communities, contribute to a better understanding of China’s
statistical system, and serve as a collection tool for academic, public, and corporation libraries as well.