The present situation of endangered freshwater fishes in China are described and the causes analyzed. More than 1 000 species of freshwater fishes are precious biological resources in inland water system of China, among which there are a great number of endemic and precious groups, and a lot of monotypic genera and monotypic species. Recently, owing to the synthetic effects of natural and human beings' disturbances, many of these fishes have gradually become endangered. The main causes are ascribed to the despoilment or the changes of water environment, excessive fishery, water pollution, unapt artificial immigration, incomplete law system and less-restricted execution etc. The preliminary statistical result indicates that 92 species are endangered fishes and account for 10% of the total freshwater fishes in China. Fishes in endangered degree can be further divided into 4 categories:extinct, 4 species; rare, 23; endangered, 28; vulnerable, 37, which belong to 9 orders, 24 families and 78 genera. For the purpose of protecting the biodiversity of fishes, it is necessary to analyse these causes clearly. This paper could be used as a scientific reference for further studies on the precious endemic freshwater fishes in China.