ObjectiveTo understand the status of awareness of hand hygiene(HH) knowledge and compliance among health care workers (HCWs) in China,  and provide scientific basis for further improvement of HH practice. MethodsA multicentre retrospective survey on awareness of HH knowledge and compliance was conducted in 200 nationwide hospitals in 2015. ResultsThe awareness rates of HH methods and HH indications among HCWs were 86.5% and 82.5% respectively; cleaning staff had the lowest awareness rate of HH indications（69.9%）, followed by the other interns and advancedstudy students （70.2%）, as well as medical technicians (79.8%); attendants had the lowest awareness rate of HH methods(76.9%), followed by advancedstudy students and interns（81.0%）, and cleaning staff （82.4%）； HH knowledge awareness rate among HCWs in secondary hospitals was lower than tertiary hospitals，and the districtlevel hospitals had the lowest awareness rate of HH. HH compliance rate and correct rate were 70.1%  and 74.9% respectively; the interns and advancedstudy students were at a low level of compliance and correct rates (61.4% and 60.9% respectively); the municipal hospitals had the lowest compliance and correct rates，nonteaching hospitals were lower than teaching hospitals. ConclusionHH in primary hospitals is weak,  HH of interns， advancedstudy students，as well as attendants and cleaning staffs are not enough, HH management should be strengthened,  awareness and compliance of HH should be improved.