Climate niche characteristics and potential distribution of Tricholoma matsutake have been studied using Ecological Niche Factor Analysis (ENFA) and ecological niche modeling. Our data revealed that T. matsutake was highly vulnerable to climatic conditions and that distribution of this valuable mushroom was confined to a very narrow climatic niche defined by abundant rainfall in summer, relatively large daily temperature fluctuations and a narrow annual temperature range. Ecological niche modeling showed that two major areas of China were suitable for T. matsutake: in Southwest China, the Hengduan Mountains and the Yunnan Plateau were core areas together with the Sichuan Plateau and Southeastern Tibet, while in Northeast China, compatible areas were mainly distributed in the Changbai Mountains. In addition, the Qinling Mountains in southern Shaanxi Province, southeastern Shanxi, northern Henan, northern Shandong and the Daxinganling area of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were also well-suited.