OBJECTIVES: Dementia is a progressive disease characterized by behavioral, functional, and cognitive deficits that affects patients and their families on multiple levels. The aim of this study was to estimate the impact of dementia care on caregivers at personal, emotional, social, professional, and financial levels in China. METHODS: A multicenter, cross-sectional hospital based study in dementia patients was conducted between September 2009 and December 2009 in 48 Tier 3 hospitals across seven regions of mainland China.  Patients with suspected dementia and their caregivers were given the option to participate and complete an Informed Consent Form. Consented patients underwent standard dementia and subtype diagnosis using criteria from Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). Level of caregiver burden was measured using the Chinese validated Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), which was designed to reflect the stresses experienced by caregivers of dementia patients. Costs were converted into US dollars (6.83 Yuan = 1 USD). RESULTS: A total of 1425 caregivers participated in the caregiver assessment interview. Results showed that dementia care had the greatest impact on the professional lives of caregivers, with 25.3% of all respondents reporting a reduction to their work schedule in the past month and a greater reduction in work hours compared with counterparts who cared for patients with newly diagnosed dementia. With regard to personal, social, and emotional well-being, most caregivers reported that dementia care had little to no impact. Costs associated with dementia care ranged $55–$214 (USD) and total cost averaged $575 (USD) per month. This amount exceeds the reported per capita disposable income of urban dwellers ($210). CONCLUSIONS: . The results reported here are the first to describe the burden of dementia care among a cohort of caregivers in China, and provides some insight into the obstacles facing the country with the fastest growing elderly population in the world.