The paper deals with distribution, some genetic characteristics and taxonomic classification of main Vertisols in China. Eleven profiles from main areas of Vertisols in China were studied. The research content included: (1) morphological features, physical and chemical properties, abundances of macro-elements and trace-elements, iron and manganese oxides and clay minerals of main soil genetic horizons; (2) chemical and mineralogical composition of iron-manganese concretions and calcareous concretions etc.The results show that Vertisols and Vertisol-type soils in China are distributed widely front tropical zone, subtropical zone to warm temperate zone, which could be roughly divided into three areas: (Ⅰ) tropical Udic Vertisol area, including two pell clay soil regions in depressed lowlands of basalt tablelands of the northern Hainan Island and Leizhou Peninsula; (Ⅱ) sub-tropical Udic Vertisols area, including three pellic and chromic clay soil regions in lowlands, basins and river terraces of southern China, Yunnan-Guizhou Pleteau and Sichuan basin; and (Ⅲ) warm temperate zone Aquic Vertisol area, including three black clay soil regions in low-lands of Huaibei Plain, Shandong Peninsula Plain and Nanyang Basin. Their soil-forming factors are characterized by the alternation of wet and dry climate, low and flat terrain, parent material with abundant bases and heavy texture. The area of the soils was estimated at about one percent of the total land area of China.