Beach nourishment is more and more accepted by people for coast protection and damage reduction in China. But the information of status, benefits and prospects documented is fragmented and incomplete. This study creates a database that includes beach nourishment episodes which have occurred along the Chinese coast. In total, 53 beach nourishment episodes have occurred, at 49 locations in China over the past two decades from 1994 to 2014, over 40 km shoreline was replenished at 30 locations. In order to reduce or avoid additional dry beach decrease at A(F)A(N) place, semi-submerged breakwater with some geotextile underlayment to trap sediment and prevent filled material sinking. Sandy coast nourishment is the most popular type in China, with the rise of coastal tourism and real estate, muddy beach nourishment are developing. Furthermore, the conception coastal sediment cell is understood and accepted for sediment management in China. Larger volume sand will be placed over the entire littoral environment to maintain the favorable sediment status. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.