A total of 42 aquatic particulate samples (suspended matter and < 63 μm surficial sediments) was collected from 11 large rivers in the eastern China. These rivers include, from north to south, the Amur, Nenjiang, Songhua, Ussuri,Tumen, Yalu, Liaohe, Luanhe, Yellow, Huaihe, Yangtze, Qiantang, Minjiang, and Pearl rivers. Contents of both major elements (Al, Si, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Ti, Fe, Mn) and trace elements (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, Co, Ni, V) in the particulate samples were analysed. Based on the data set, to which were added literature data for the Yellow,Yangtze and Pearl rivers,the geographicvariations of river particulate compositions in the eastern China were studied. The results showedthat the Yellow River particulates contained a notably high content of Ca and low content of Al. Except for the Yellow River, Al contents in particulates increased from the northern rivers to the southern rivers, while K and Na decreased. Trace elements were relatively enriched in the southern river particulates. The geographic variations were suggested to be related to the weathering types and geological background within the river basins. The average composition of river particulates in China was then estimated. Based on the Chinese river data from this paper, as well as on the literature data for other main world rivers, a new estimation of the global average particulate composition was reported. Since the earlier estimations on the literature were not concerned with or only concerned with few of the Chinese rivers which contribute a great proportion to the global load of river particulates, this new estimation may be more reasonable.