Despite the rapid global shift towards local involvement in protected areas, studies on Community-based Co-management (CBCM) in China’s top-down protected area system is rather limited. To fill this gap, our research focused on the empowerment level, the core of CBCM, to disclose the temporal tendency, determinants and performance in China. Based on literature review, case study, field investigation, and interviews, we explored the historical development of CBCM in China by analysing four basic empowering degrees, namely Instructive, Consultative, Agreement, and Cooperation, and elaborating on eight recent and typical cases. Consequently, an evident tendency toward local empowerment in China’s protected area system was revealed and three critical factors were identified, which include governments’ guidance, local culture, and leadership, as well as the involvement of Non-government Organizations (NGOs). Positive ecological and economic outcomes were detected in all cases, while the contribution to social effects appeared in only part of them. Our research revealed that the degree of empowerment level may not determin the outcomes of CBCMs, and the inherent equity issues are essential to win better social support of local communities. We advocate for more diversified co-management approaches, being adaptive to local conditions rather than simply emphasizing empowering locals without considering the top-down protected area regime in China’s contexts
