The　perspectives　and　knowledge　of　decision　makers,　especially　those　at　the　provincial　level,　have　great　impact　on　the　progress　of　climate　change　adaptation　in　China.　Therefore,　identifying　knowledge　gaps　and　enhancing　climate　adaptation　awareness　of　decision　makers　at　that　level　is　very　important.　Based　on　this　aim,　we　conducted　a　survey　of　climate　change　adaptation　awareness　among　85　administrative　and　management　personnel　from　governmental　departments　responsible　for　climate　change　adaptation　planning　in　five　provinces.　Study　findings　revealed　that　over　half　of　respondents　have　knowledge　of　climate　change　adaptation　measures,　but　the　extent　of　understanding　varied　across　different　adaptation　aspects　and　regions.　Among　the　different　aspects,　understanding　of　measures　related　to　human　health　protection　was　the　lowest.　A　large　majority　of　respondents　indicated　an　eagerness　to　obtain　knowledge　and　information　about　climate　change　adaptation,　but　the　main　barrier　is　a　lack　of　training　and　learning　material.　When　making　adaptation　plans　or　policies,　the　greatest　obstacle　expressed　was　a　funding　shortage.　Information　generated　from　this　study　can　provide　direction　and　guidance　for　training　and　educating　provincial　decision　makers　in　order　to　improve　the　levels　of　adaptation　planning　and　policy　making.　(C)　2016　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.