OBJECTIVE: To investigate the level of awareness about tuberculosis (TB) in the public and associated factors in China. METHODS: Participants were recruited from 60 counties in 19 provinces and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Questions asked covered the following areas: 1) overall TB awareness, 2) signs/symptoms of TB, 3) mode of TB transmission, 4) TB dispensaries, 5) free TB detection/treatment policy, 6) TB curability and 7) stigma attached to TB. Factors associated with TB awareness were examined using logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 69253 respondents aged 12-65 years were interviewed, revealing an overall TB awareness rate of 89.0% (95%CI 88.8-89.3). The awareness rates for TB symptoms, TB dispensaries and the free TB detection/treatment policy were respectively 15.1% (95%CI 14.8-15.4), 41.9% (95%CI 41.6-42.3) and 44.7% (95%CI 44.3-45.0). Approximately 71.9% (95%CI 71.6-72.3) had some extent of stigma towards patients with TB. People in the farming industry and those with low educational levels had poorer knowledge of all aspects of TB knowledge and were more likely to stigmatise TB. CONCLUSIONS: Future TB control programmes in China should emphasise TB symptoms, TB dispensaries and its free TB detection/treatment policy to increase public TB awareness, and should target farm workers and people with low educational levels. © 2009 The Union.