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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 k5J/Awhn9xIIXN4SJWCpRw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000909226-03-000038.txt : 20030812
<SEC-HEADER>0000909226-03-000038.hdr.sgml : 20030812
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030812190719
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000909226-03-000038
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030808
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030812

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TEMPLETON CHINA WORLD FUND
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000909226
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		IRS NUMBER:				593192206
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0831

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BROWARD FINANCIAL CENTRE
		STREET 2:		500 EAST BROWARD BLVD STE 2100
		CITY:			FORT LAUDERDALE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33394-3091
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9545277500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BROWARD FINANCIAL CENTRE
		STREET 2:		500 EAST BROWARD BLVD SUITE 2100
		CITY:			FORT LAUDERDALE
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33394

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TEMPLETON CHINA WORLD FUND INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930716

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BURNS HARMON E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001010269

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-07876
		FILM NUMBER:		03838793

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FRANKLIN RESOURCES INC
		STREET 2:		777 MARINERS ISLAND BLVD
		CITY:			SAN MATEO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94404
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4153126505

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FRANKLIN RESOURCES INC
		STREET 2:		777 MARINERS ISLAND BLVD 6TH FLOOR
		CITY:			SAN MATEO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94404
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-08-08</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000909226</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TEMPLETON CHINA WORLD FUND</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TCH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001010269</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BURNS HARMON E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O FRANKLIN RESOURCES INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE FRANKLIN PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN MATEO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94403</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1795.265</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.75</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Profit Sharing - See Footnote</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Harmon E. Burns serves on the administrative committee of the Franklin Templeton Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;), which owns 137,248 shares of the Templeton China World Fund.  In that capacity, he shares in voting control of such shares.  The shares reflected above represent Mr. Burns' pro-rata portion of the shares of Templeton China World Fund held by the Plan, based on Mr. Burns' interest in the Plan.  Mr. Burns disclaims any beneficial ownership of such shares, and this report will not be deemed to be an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of such securities for Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Harmon E. Burns</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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