-----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,
 P+EszH6r7+UiC0CdnGqNy6r3MftvXhOhqhTS4e05UIQxGg3apicuo5je7Fhrd9qE
 D/K+kbjMFsy1XZnlnu9vEA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000909226-03-000039.txt : 20030812
<SEC-HEADER>0000909226-03-000039.hdr.sgml : 20030812
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030812193256
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000909226-03-000039
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:			JOHNSON RUPERT H JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001010261

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-07876
		FILM NUMBER:		03838828

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FRANKLIN RESOURCES INC
		STREET 2:		ONE FRANKLIN PARKWAY
		CITY:			SAN MATEO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94403
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4153126505

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FRANKLIN RESOURCES INC
		STREET 2:		ONE FRANKLIN PARKWAY
		CITY:			SAN MATEO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94403
</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>0001010261</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JOHNSON RUPERT H JR</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>2020.451</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">Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. 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. Johnson's pro-rata portion of the shares of Templeton China World Fund held by the Plan, based on Mr. Johnson's interest in the Plan.  Mr. Johnson 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>

    <remarks>POWER OF ATTORNEY
This Statement confirms that the undersigned, Rupert H. Johnson, Jr., has authorized and designated Leslie M. Kratter to execute and file on the undersigned's behalf all Forms 3, 4, and 5 (including any amendments thereto) that the undersigned may be required to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as a result of the undersigned's ownership of or transactions in securities of Templeton China World Fund.  The authority of Leslie M. Kratter under this Statement shall continue until the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4, and 5 with regard to his ownership of or transactions in securities of Templeton China World Fund, unless earlier revoked in writing.  The undersigned acknowledges that Leslie M. Kratter is not assuming any of the undersigned&amp;#8217;s responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Date:  August 12, 2003                                     s/Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.
                                                             Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>s/Leslie M. Kratter</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----