In this study, we assessed and compared the sea surface temperature (SST) trends between offshore China and other sea regions of interest as well as global mean surface temperature based on four SST datasets. The results revealed an enhanced SST response over offshore China during different periods. During the accelerated global warming periods (1980s and 1990s),SST over offshore China shows faster rising trend than the global mean. The most pronounced warming area is located over the East China Sea, with the rising rate up to 0.60 °C per decade, which is 5 times faster than that of the global mean. While during the hiatus period (1998-2014), SST over offshore China exhibits significant cooling trend. The decadal variability of offshore China SST is closely linked to the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). The periods with rapid warming (cooling) over offshore China are consistent with the positive (negative) phase of PDO. PDO may affect SST over offshore China through the East Asian Monsoon and Kuroshio Current.