Abstract: Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of mumps in China during 2008-2010 and provide scientific evidence for the prevention and control of mumps. Methods Descriptive epidemiological analysis was conducted on the incidence and outbreak data of mumps collected from national disease reporting information system. Results A total of 909 087 cases of mumps were reported accumulatively in China during 2008-2010 with the annual average incidence of 22.8/lakh. The male to female ratio of the cases was 1.62∶1. The incidence peaks were in winter and spring. Up to 81.8% of the cases occurred in children aged 3-14 years and 97.0% of the outbreaks occurred in child care settings and schools, especially in the primary schools. Conclusion The incidence of mumps is higher in China than in developed countries. It is necessary to improve the measles-rubella-mumps (MMR) combined vaccine immunization programme in children and increase its coverage. Morning screening in schools is suggested during the outbreak to strengthen the surveillance of mumps.