The maximal aerobic power of 463 Chinese children and adolescents, 10–19 years, is described. The absolute values of maximal oxygen intake (V̇O2max) in boys and girls were 1.75–3.26 and 1.44–2.10 L/min, respectively. Relative values of V̇O2max per unit stature (V̇O2max/stature) were 12.35–19.42 ml/cm.min for boys and 10.18–13.42 ml/cm.min for girls, values per unit weight (V̇O2max/weight) were 48.60–56.59 ml/kg.min for boys and 39.34–45.56 ml/kg.min for girls, and values per estimated unit lean body mass (V̇O2max/lean‐body‐mass) were 58.98–65.28 ml/kg.min for boys and 54.90–59.04 ml/kg.min for girls. Maximal values of oxygen pulse (V̇O2max/HRmax) were 8.58–16.67 ml/beat for boys and 6.88–10.35 ml/beat for girls. In early adolescence, V̇O2max, V̇O2max/stature, and V̇O2max/HRmax increased with chronological age, but the increment was less in girls. In contrast, V̇O2max/weight and V̇O2max/LBM did not increase with age in boys and girls. All indicators of V̇O2max were lager in boys than in girls. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.