Using data from a sample of Chinese children (n = 297) aged 3-6 years in Beijing, we examined the characteristics of Chinese parenting styles and the relationship with children's developmental outcomes. A 6-month follow-up study of 110 of the 297 participants further explored the long-term effect of parenting styles on children's development. Results showed that: (a) the mean scores of the four dimensions of authoritative parenting were significantly higher than those in the four dimensions of authoritarian parenting; (b) democratic participation positively predicted children's mathematics and science, and non-reasoning/punitive strategies negatively predicted children's social-emotional and cognitive development in Wave 1; (c) in Wave 2, verbal hostility positively predicted children's cognitive development, and directiveness positively predicted children's social relations.