-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OdsG6+CM0qMps3BlYjNVYK+3OfRXU8s7kOaMatzF+NWdYvPNTRWLIPSRa3oiGfOY
 CzkcpTI5bDjpPXU/6CKCLQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001472329-09-000003.txt : 20091223
<SEC-HEADER>0001472329-09-000003.hdr.sgml : 20091223
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091223093531
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001472329-09-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091222
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091223
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091223

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SKINNER JAMIE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001472329

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-05749
		FILM NUMBER:		091256780

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SALTIRE COURT
		STREET 2:		20 CASTLE TERRACE
		CITY:			EDINBURGH
		STATE:			X0
		ZIP:			EH12ES

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHINA FUND INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000845379
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TWO AVENUE DE LAFAYETTE
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 5049 (02206-5049)
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02111
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6176622789

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TWO AVENUE DE LAFAYETTE
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 5049 (02206-5049)
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02111
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-12-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000845379</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHINA FUND INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CHN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001472329</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SKINNER JAMIE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>SALTIRE COURT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>20 CASTLE TERRACE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EDINBURGH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>EH12ES</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>UNITED KINGDOM</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>PRESIDENT</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3250</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>27.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3250</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jamie Skinner</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-12-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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