This article discusses the standards and practice of physical education in China. In China, 200,000,000 children in grades one through 12 receive physical education programming in 540,000 schools (People's Education Press, 2002). Since the 1990s, in response to this enormous task, the Chinese government has established national guidelines and standards for educating physical educators (China Ministry of Education (CME), 1995, 2003) and for addressing the fitness needs of students (CME, 2002; China State Council, 1995). Standards also have been established to outline how physical education is to be provided throughout the nation. In 1992, the China Regulations of Physical Education and Student Athletics (CME, 1992) mandated that physical education be provided to grades one through 12. Satisfactory completion of physical education is a requirement for advancement to the next grade level and for graduation. Administrative sanctions can be applied to schools that fail to provide one hour of physical activity each day, including at least three after-school physical activity sessions and two physical education classes each week. In 1995, the landmark China Law of Physical Education and Sports was passed (National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China, 1995). This law established seven mandates that schools must comply with: (1) Physical education is a regular part of school education; (2) Physical education classes are listed as an academic course that is regularly assessed and sufficient to meet the needs of special students; (3) Time must be allocated for students to participate in physical activities every day for the purpose of meeting national fitness standards; (4) A variety of after-school physical activity programs, training, and sports competitions are provided; annually, a school-wide physical activity and sport meet is conducted; (5) Physical educators need to be qualified according to national regulations and should have benefits related to the job specifications; (6) Physical activity fields, facilities, and equipment must be used for physical activities only; and (7) Student physical examinations must be given, and administrative supervision for the improvement of students' fitness must be provided. Although these seven mandates are positive in principle, enforcing compliance has been problematic. As a result, implementation of the mandates has been uneven.