The first cancer registry office was established in 1959 in China. In 1969, most provinces, autonomous regions and independently administered municipal districts had their own cancer prevention offices. In the 1970s, many cancer high incidence areas began their work on cancer registration. Thirty-eight cancer registry offices had been set up by the 1980s. In 1990 the China Cancer Registration Collaboration Regulations were made and in 2003, the Plan of Cancer Prevention and Control was issued by the Ministry of health of China. Cancer registration was emphasized as the main feature of cancer prevention and control. In 2004, the China Cancer Registration Handbook was published and at the same time, the China Institute of Health Information and the Cancer Registration and Monitoring Board were established and regulations of the board had been passed. Until now there are 195 cancer registry offices in China (80 in cities and 113 in rural areas) covering about 190 million people which accounts for 13% of the Chinese population.