Objective To determine the constantlychanging HCV genotype distribution patterns in China and investigate the HCV epidemic history and evolutionary dynamics.Methods HCV RNA from 423 HCV patients was extracted using Qiagen Viral RNA extraction kit,cDNA was transcripted using RevertAid First Strand cDNA Synthesis kit,and both E1 and NS5B sequences were amplified using RT-PCR followed by fluorescent sequencing.The sequences were analyzed using phylogenetic trees.The evolutionary analyses were performed using the Bayesian MCMC (Markov Chain Monte Carlo) algorithm implemented in the BEAST software and the BSP was reconstructed to form a retrospective picture of the epidemic history of HCV.Results Six HCV genotypes and 12 subtypes were identified (1b:65.9％,6a:17.1％,2a:7.4％,3a:3.6％,3b:3.3％,6e:0.76％,1a,1c,2b,2f,4d 5a:0.25％),in addition to two novel HCV-6 variants.A period from 1993 to 2000 was highlighted by the five BSPs,during which rapid HCV growth appeared followed by an abrupt slowing.Conclusions A great diversity in HCV was detected,which reflected a constantly changing pattern of HCV genotypes in China over time.They concurrently highlighted fast HCV growth in 1993-2000.This is a period during which HCV infection become explosive in China because of an officially encouraged plasma campaign in the1990s.