Objective To investigate the composition and distribution of rodents, their trend of seasonal variation, and the density of rodents in different habitats in China, and to provide an scientific basis for the development of rodent control programs. Methods The rodent surveillance data of the National Vectors Surveillance in China in 2016 were collected and analyzed to investigate the composition of rodent species. The density of rodents was compared across species, habitats, and provinces. Seasonal variation of density was analyzed. Results Among the rodents captured in China in 2016, Rattus norvegicus had the highest density of 0.30 rodents/100 traps, followed by Mus musculus with a density of 0.09 rodents/100 traps. There was a fluctuation in the total density of rodents. Among the three habitats, rural areas had a significantly higher density of rodents than the other two habitats, and residential areas had the lowest density. Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region had the highest density of rodents (1.68 rodents/100 traps), followed by Guangdong province. The total density of rodents in China showed an approximately unimodal distribution, with higher densities from March to October. The dominant species R. norvegicus had a relatively low density in March and a significantly higher density than the other species in other months, and R. rattoides had a relatively low density throughout the year. Seasonal variation of rodents varied across species. Conclusion The national rodent surveillance in China in 2016 indicated there were slight fluctuations in the total rodent density throughout the year and seasonal variation of the rodent density varied across species and provinces. The above findings imply that different prevention and control measures should be taken based on surveillance and the local rodent borne diseases risks.