Regional patterns of soil respiration in China’s forests were analysed using published data from 62 plots. Rates of soil respiration were found significantly correlated to mean annual air temperature, mean annual precipitation, annual aboveground litterfall and aboveground net primary production. Q10 values of soil respiration showed significant negative correlations to mean annual air temperature and mean annual precipitation. Root respiration and litter respiration were found positively correlated to soil respiration, and soil heterotrophic respiration and litter respiration positively correlated to litterfall. Soil hetero- and autotrophic respiration were found positively correlated. Contributions of root respiration, litter respiration and mineral soil respiration to soil respiration averaged 34.7%, 20.2% and 50.2%, respectively. The contribution of mineral soil respiration to soil respiration showed negatively correlated to mean air temperature and annual rainfall, and contribution of heterotrophic respiration negatively correlated to annual rainfall. Root contribution to soil respiration increased initially and then gradually steady with increase in root respiration, following a symptotic curve with the limit value of 45.9%.