Methane fluxes from rice fields in the Taihu Lake Region were studied using static-chamber/gas chromatography. In-situ observation was carried out in paddy fields different in treatment or cultivation pattern, separately, i.e. Treatments NN (no N control), FP (farmer’s practice), YE (10%～15% higher in yield and 20%～30% higher in N use efficiency), HY (30%～40% higher in yield), HE (30%～50% higher in N use efficiency), and IE (currently integrated management for the same as FP in yield and 20%～30% higher in NUE). It was found that distinctive seasonal variation existed of methane emission from rice fields. Methane fluxes increased after transplanting peaking at the vegetative growth stage early or late depending on treatments and then declined rapidly after mid-season drainage. The cumulative methane emission observed during the period from transplanting to the heading stage accounted for 93%～98% of the seasonal total. Methane fluxes differed among different treatments. Treatment HY with organic manure emitted as high as 258.8 kg hm^-2, obviously higher than Treatments NN, FP, YE, and IE without organic manure. However, CH₄ emission per unit grain yield did not differ much among treatments, averaging CO₂ 0.60 kg kg^-1, which indicates that cultivation patterns with higher rice production would not substantially enhance CH₄ emission. Treatment YE was the lowest in CH₄ emission per unit grain yield, being CO₂ 0.49 kg kg^-1, thus deserving wide extension due to increased grain yield, improved N use efficiency and decreased global warming potential simultaneously.