Based on the cloudground lightning location data of the National Lightning Monitoring Network from 2010 to 2014, 505 257 thunderstorm systems were obtained by using the thunderstorm identifying and tracking algorithm, and then the occurrence and development characteristics of thunderstorms in central and eastern China were statistically analyzed. Due to the differences in topography and climate, in this paper, we divided the central and eastern part of China into five regions: Northeast China, North China, Central China and East China, Southwest China and South China. We compared the thunderstorm characteristic parameters, including duration, covering range and speed, etc., analyzed the characteristics of environmental physical quantities of thunderstorms, and also discussed the correlation between thunderstorms and topography. The results showed that thunderstorms have the characteristics of strong localization and rapid development. 〖JP2〗The moving speed of more than 70% 〖JP〗thunderstorms is slower than 60 km·h-1, the duration of more than 80% thunderstorms is less than 2 h, and the covering range of more than 90% of thunderstorms is less than 60 km. The thunderstorms in Northeast China tend to move faster, whereas those in Southwest China travel slower and the covering range is even less. The thunderstorms in Central China, East China, and South China have the highest levels of CAPE (convective available potential energy), followed by the Southwest, and the lowest CAPE is found in Northeast China and North China. In comparison, the situation for the vertical wind shear of 0-6 km is on the contrary. Guangdong and Hai nan Provinces are the regions where thunderstorms are most frequently generated. South of Yangtze Ri ver, east of Southwest China, west of South China and the Taihang Mountain regions are prone to have more active thunderstorms. In addition, the generation of thunderstorms is closely related to terrain, thus, the west foot of Sichuan Basin and the Pearl River Delta often see the thunderstorm triggered by the obvious lift of terrain.