Background Living donor kidney transplantation (LKT) has been booming in China. This study aimed to elucidate the renal function of both Chinese donors and recipients after the donation and transplantation. Methods One hundred and forty-one pairs of donors and recipients for LKT were randomly selected and followed up for up to seven years. The donors' and recipients' renal function was recorded before and after operation. Results The donors presented a mean age of (43.9 +/- 7.5) years at donation. The female contributed 101/141 (71.6%) in all donors, and no effect was shown between genders on healthy donors' renal function. The donors' glomerular filtration rates (GFR) were (119.5 +/- 20.4) ml/min, (85.2 +/- 17.6) ml/min, (87.2 +/- 15.9) ml/min, (82.1 +/- 14.6) ml/min and (83.0 +/- 13.7) ml/min preoperatively, and for five days, three months, one year and beyond one year after the operation. The donors for the period of 1-3 years, 3-5 years and more than 5 years after donation showed GFR as (83.9 +/- 12.7) ml/min, (83.0 +/- 17.6) ml/min, and (80.9 +/- 20.8) ml/min, respectively, no statistically significant difference was found. Moreover, no significant clinical changes in blood pressure and proteinuria were found among the donors. In the recipients, delayed graft function (DGF) rate was 6.4%, acute rejection rate was 11.3%, and GFR were (66.5 +/- 16.4) ml/min, (73.2 +/- 19.6) ml/min and (63.9 +/- 18.6) ml/min respectively at three months, one year and beyond one year post-transplantation respectively. Conclusion The donors/recipients of LKT in Chinese population experience well-functioning remaining/donor kidneys. Chin Med J 2011;124(9):1290-1295