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The maximal aerobic power of 463 Chinese children and adolescents, 10-19 years, is described. The absolute values of maximal oxygen intake (VO2 max) in boys and girls were 1.75-3.26 and 1.44-2.10 L/min, respectively. Relative values of VO2 max per unit stature (VO2 max/stature) were 12.35-19.42 ml/cm.min for boys and 10.18-13.42 ml/cm.min for girls, values per unit weight (VO2 max/weight) were 48.60-56.59 ml/kg.min for boys and 39.34-45.56 ml/kg.min for girls, and values per estimated unit lean body mass (VO2 max/lean-body-mass) were 58.98-65.28 ml/kg.min for boys and 54.90-59.04 ml/kg.min for girls. Maximal values of oxygen pulse (VO2 max/HRmax) were 8.58-16.67 ml/beat for boys and 6.88-10.35 ml/beat for girls. In early adolescence, VO2 max, VO2 max/stature, and VO2 max/HRmax increased with chronological age, but the increment was less in girls. In contrast, VO2 max/weight and VO2 max/LBM did not increase with age in boys and girls. All indicators of VO2 max were lager in boys than in girls. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.