In China, the first International Fossil Day commemoration was launched on October 11, 2017, in Yichang, Hubei Province, during the opening ceremony of the 2nd Sino-German International Paleontology Conference. The event was jointly organized by the Chinese Society of Palaeontology, the National Fossil Expert Committee, and the China Fossil Conservation Foundation. The theme for the inaugural year was "The Future of Fossils: People Studying and Caring for Our Fossil Heritage".

Since then, China has continued to celebrate International Fossil Day with diverse activities across the country, aiming to engage the public in understanding the significance of fossils and their role in scientific research and cultural heritage.