The distribution of the great gerbil (Rh. opimus) in China was analyzed on the basis of published data, museum collections, natural maps, and authors' field observations. A preliminary scheme was plotted for range regionalization, in which three parts have been isolated or, according to classification of Dubrovskiĭ and Kucheruk (1971), three regional complexes of autonomous groups of populations: Dzungarian, Beishanian and Alashanian. West of the main area of the great gerbil distribution, an isolated colony is located in the Ili River valley, connected with the Kazakhstan portion of the range (Ili regional complex of autonomous groups of populations). Additional field observations are required for more detailed description of the great gerbil range.