Abstract: Studies on design storm and the characteristics of rainstorms fallen on the ground are paid great attention highly by the departments of water resources and hydroelectric power.The rainstorm studies of China in recent 50 years are reviewed comprehensively in this paper.The generalized estimate studies of China's design storms,the improvements for the analysis and computation methods of design storms,and the advances in the studies of rainstorm characteristics are discussed respectively.For each study,main contents,data foundations,analysis methods and important conclusoins are presented briefly.