Abstract: Thispaperpresentsageneral report which first gives the distribution and geological characteristics of maar and maar lakes in China. The projects concerning maar lake research have been widely launched during the last decade, particularly within the framework of the EUROMAARS. Maars like a natural gauge recorded paleoclimate changes. The morphological features of maar are important conditions for development and preservation of high resolution archives of paleoenvironmental variations. The well defined and constant catchment basin ensures homogeneity of detritus input, and climate change, which may trigger changes in vegetation,sedimentation pathways with respect to erosion factors, aeolian input and the quality and quantity of organic material. There are many maars from tropical zone to the North Temperate Zone in China.Maar and maar lakes in China are mainly located in three regions: Leiqiong Volcanic Field, Northeast China Volcanic Field and Qinghai Xizang Plateau Volcanic Field. The known oldest maar is distributed in Shanwan area, which formed about 13Ma ago. Maars in Leiqiong Volcanic Field are located in Leizhou Peninsula and the north part of Hainan Province. Maar lakes such as Huguangyan and Shuangchiling maar lakes wereformed during Shimaoling epoch and Huguangyan epoch. These maar lakes are located in tropical area with intense monsoon and typhoon activities. Some researchers suggest that tropical forcing is a stronger influence on global changes. However, the continuous high resolution record is scarce in the tropical region in China. These maar lakes provide detailed information of paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental changes at least during the past 400000 years. There are about 164 volcanic cones, craters and maars distributed in Northeast China Volcanic Field. Generally, maars are concentrated in Huinan county and Jingyu county, Jilin Province. The K Ar ages from the basal of maars are between 2.13Ma and 0.96Ma. But some maars may be younger than 0.96Ma from geomorphological opinion. Maars in Qinghai Xizang Plateau Volcanic Field are mainly distributedinMts.West Kunlun and Kekexili. According to interpretation of satellite photograph and aerophotograph, some maar lakes are perfectly preserved in this area. Qinghai Xizang Plateau is the highest and largest plateau in the world and not only affects Asian Monsoon and Westerlies, but also has an important effect to global climate. The archieves in maar lakes may help scientists to discuss the uplift of the plateau. MaarandmaarlakesinChinacoverdifferentgeological and environmental background.They provide the abundat information of paleoclimate and paleoenvironment. The result from these maars will have great contribution to global changes.