Shadow banking systems were developing rapidly in the Western economies during the last two decades. Research from recent years show that within the last years equally important process of shadow banking development occurs in some emerging markets, and among others, in China. The system was not only a sophisticated part of China’s financial market, but played very important role in the development of the Chinese economy. The aim of this article is a description of the mechanisms of shadow banking development in China, characteristics of the main threats of this system and the regulatory approach in the country. Despite many threats, the shadow banking system plays an important role in the Chinese economy. There is a need for its regulation and support for further development.