Abstract: Based on the available observation data from 681 meteorological stations in China in 1954—2000, the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of sandstorms in China in recent 47 years have been analyzed. The results show: (1) The arid and semi-arid regions in north part of China are sandstorm's easily influencing area, and Northwest is high-incidence area. (2) The characteristics of sandstorm's daily variation and seasonal variation are significant. (3) In recent 45 years, the frequency of sandstorms increased at a few stations in Qinghai province, Xinjiang and Inner Monglia, but decreased in the most northern parts of the country. (4) The number of violent sandstorm events in 1980's and 1990's is significantly less than that in 1950's and 1970's at Minqin, Gansu and Hetian, Xijiang. (5) The number of sandstorm events in 2000 is more than the average in 1990's, but less than the average in 1956—2000 in North China and the east part of Northwest China. (6) The interannual change and secular trend of sandstorms are consistent with the variation of strong wind. The correlation coefficient between sandstorm and strong wind is generally over 0.5 at a single station.