Abstract:By using 1970-2006 observed thunderstorm data from 847 stations in Chi na, the spatial and temporal characteristics of thunderstorm in China and the va riation of thunderstorm track in development and attenuation phases were demonst rated. Results show that thunderstorm in China were mainly concentrated over 4 r egions: south area, plateau area, north area and Xinjiang. Annual mean thunderst orm days decreased recent years, and the decreasing trend is obvious over south area and plateau area. Thunderstorms over south area were spread from the centra l part of south of Yangtze River to the westward and southward, and then to nort hward; thunderstorms of plateau stretched from south of Sichuan to the northwar d and westward; thunderstorms of north area stretched from the northeast of Nort h China to eastward and southward. In July the thunderstorm of the a bove 3 areas connected together and the extension and frequency of thunderstorm in China reached maximum due to the seasonal shift of subtropical high toward t he north. Thunderstorms began to withdraw along with the shift of subtropical hi gh toward the south from the second ten days of August to the first ten days o f October. Thunderstorms usually began at 12:00-24:00 from April to September with two maxima at 15:00-17:00 and 19:00-20:00, and the duration of thunderstorm ove r south area, especially over South China, is longest from March to September wi th three maxima, while over north area, including Xinjiang, the duration is shor ter concentrating in summer with later maximum time and lower frequency. Analysi s of the spatial and temporal characteristics and evolution of thunderstorm in C hina provides a macroscopically climatic background for the potential prediction of thunderstorm. The relationship between the evolution of thunderstorm and atm ospheric circulation and system will be studied in the near future.