Abstract:Based on the annual hail-day records of 614 stations in China from 1971 to 2000,spatial and temporal features were discussed.Results show that the annual hail days in China decreased apparently in recent 30 years,and hails occur more frequently in the Tibetan Plateau with annual hail days more than 10 days.Over the Yangtze River valley and South China,hails often appear during February to April,but in other regions in May to September.As a result,hails occur least/most frequent in the winter/summer.Moreover,hails occur typically in the afternoon and early evening,but in the Yangtze River valley and South China,it can happen at any time.