The percentage of p recip itation anomalies and the drought grades (DG) were calculated by using the monthlymean p recip i2 tation data for the period of 1974 - 2006 from 614 stations in China. The climate regions are divided according to DG based on REOF, and the temporal evolution characteristics ofDG in each region were studied. The results show that there is obvious interdecadal varia2 bility in annual p recip itation in China, especially in northwest China. Since the 21 st century, a sharp ly increasing rainfall trend ap2 peared in the west of Xinjiang. The first eleven rotated loading vector fields ofDG rep resent eleven p rincipal p recip itation anomaly are2 as, and each marked by a dryness/wetness trend of its own. DG and the data at the rep resentative stations show that annual total p re2 cip itation has obviously decreased in northeast China, north China and Hetao area, but significantly increased in northwest China in the recent 50 years.