China　is　one　of　the　largest　producers　and　consumers　of　fluorescent　lamps　in　the　world.　However,　there　are　few　studies　that　evaluate　the　environmental　impacts　of　fluorescent　lamps　in　China.　This　study　compared　the　environmental　impacts　of　two　common　lighting　systems　in　China,　compact　fluorescent　lamps　and　linear　fluorescent　lamps,　throughout　their　life　cycles.　The　environmental　impacts　of　fluorescent　lamps　at　the　national　level　were　also　calculated.　The　results　indicated　that　the　environmental　burden　of　the　products　was　highest　during　their　usage　phase　due　to　electricity　consumption.　From　an　environmental　point　of　view,　the　linear　fluorescent　lamp　is　the　more　appropriate　source　of　light　compared　to　the　compact　fluorescent　lamp.　In　the　case　of　environment　impacts　on　the　whole　nation　of　China,　the　analysis　found　that　the　environmental　burden　associated　with　fluorescent　lamps　was　considerable.　In　2011,　around　145.54　million　tons　of　CO2　and　0.69　million　tons　of　PM2.5-eq　were　generated　from　fluorescent　lamp　production　in　China.　More　than　half　of　the　emissions　during　the　production　phase　were　embodied　in　the　exported　lamps.　The　government　needs　to　adopt　policy　measures　to　guide　production　and　trade　toward　being　more　environmentally　friendly.　©　2017,　Science　Press.　All　right　reserved.