Anthropogenic activities have altered the global nitrogen cycle, which has led to increases of nitrogen input into ecosystems through N deposition. China has become the third largest N deposition region. Excess N input can have negative impacts on ecosystem health via processes such as soil acidification, losses of biodiversity, and changes in the carbon cycle. Meanwhile, nitrogen input is an important factor linked to terrestrial carbon sinks. Specifically, such input is connected with a number of biogeochemical cycles that can influence the carbon cycle and its spatial pattern. Because of these wide-ranging effects, atmospheric N deposition rates have attracted much concern, and several studies have attempted to reveal the spatial and temporal patterns of N deposition with the purpose of evaluating N deposition effects on the carbon cycle of terrestrial ecosystems. We have established a new mathematical model that can be used to estimate regional N deposition over long time periods based on data related to precipitation, energy consumption, and fertilizer use. Comparisons between simulations and observations showed that the model can simulate the spatial and temporal variations of N deposition reasonably well. Then, we estimated the N deposition in China during 1961-2010 based on this model. The results were as follows. (1) During 1961-2010, the average total nitrogen deposition in China was 0.81 g N m^-2 a^-1, and the deposition values increased from 0.31 g N m^-2 a^-1 in the 1961-1970 to 1.71 g N m^-2 a^-1 in the 2001-2010; the total N deposition increased from 2.85 Tg N/a to 15.68 Tg N/a. (2) The NH_x-N deposition rate was about 4 times that of NO_y-N, and NH_x-N was the main deposition type. The wet deposition rate was 3.63 times that of the dry deposition during 1961-2010; thus, wet deposition represents a main pathway for N input into ecosystems in the region. (3) In terms of spatial distribution patterns, the N deposition decreased from southeastern to northwestern China. The north, central, and cropland areas of the northeast had the largest overall N deposition rates and the largest increases in the N deposition rates over time.