OBJECTIVES: Current prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors are lacking among Chinese adults.  This study contributes to our knowledge by examining current national estimates for hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity among Chinese and white adults aged 20 years and older, by gender and age group. METHODS: Cross-sectional observational study design.  Analysis of adults 20 years and older surveyed in the National Health Interview Surveys 2006-2008 (Chinese, n = 853, white, n= 51,769). RESULTS: Among US Chinese adults (2.2 million), hypertension and high cholesterol are equally prevalent (19%, age-standardized), but significantly lower than the 27% age-standardized prevalence of each condition among the population of US white adults (176 million).  Among Chinese and white adults aged 65 years and older, hypertension rates are similar, 56% and 59%, respectively, but high cholesterol prevalence is significantly lower among Chinese adults, 33% vs. 49%, respectively, driven by the lower rate of high cholesterol among older Chinese men (27%) than older Chinese women (40%).   Overall diabetes prevalence is significantly lower among Chinese than among white adults (5% vs. 7%), but rates among older adults are similar, 16% and 17%, respectively.  Obesity rates for Chinese adults aged 20-39, 40-64, and 65+ are 6%, 8%, and 7%, respectively. Obesity rates for white adults aged 20-39, 40-64, and 65+ are 26%, 34%, and 27%, respectively (p <0.0001 for all obesity differences). CONCLUSIONS: Overall age-standardized prevalence rates of hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes are lower among Chinese adults.  However, among older adults, hypertension and diabetes rates are similar in the Chinese and white populations.  Obesity rates are lower among Chinese adults of all age groups. Effective approaches are recommended to reduce selected cardiovascular risk factors among both groups of older adults.