Coastal blue carbon ecosystems can efficiently sequester carbon, which has the potential to mitigate increases in atmospheric CO_2 concentration. In this paper, we analyzed the C sequestration potential of blue carbon ecosystemsmangroves, seagrass meadows, and saltmarsheson Chinese coasts based on the existing literature and data and reviewed why these ecosystems have high sequestration rates. Our results showed that Chinese coastal blue carbon ecosystems could bury 0.349-0.835 Tg carbon annually over a total habitat area of 1623-3850 km~2. However, the blue carbon ecosystems of China are rapidly degrading because of human activities such as land reclamation, environmental pollution, resource overexploitation, and climate change (particularly sea level rise). Therefore, conservation and restoration actions are urgently needed to develop, maintain, and enhance the sequestration potentials of these blue carbon ecosystems. Finally, we suggest issues related to the management of Chinese blue carbon ecosystems and their potential for mitigating impending climate change that must be addressed in the future.