Forestry residue is an important lignocellulosic feedstock for bioenergy production. This study estimated the potential forestry residue production (PFRP) in 31 provincial regions in mainland China. The PFRP increased from 220.48 million tons (Mt) in 2007 to 257.44 Mt in 2016. The average annual PFRP between 2014 and 2016 was 254.69 Mt, which comprised 228.01 Mt of wood residue, 22.86 Mt of bamboo residue, and 3.82 Mt of herbaceous fruit plant residue. For the wood residue, forest pruning residue accounted for 43.34% (98.83 Mt), while wood logging residue and wood bucking residue accounted for 16.39% (37.37 Mt) and 18.73% (42.72 Mt), respectively. Bamboo residue was composed of 21.26 Mt of bamboo processing residue and 1.60 Mt of waste bamboo. Guangxi, Yunnan and Fujian had the highest potential forestry residue from 17.88 – 32.66 Mt among 31 provinces from 2014 to 2016. Wood residue production in southern provinces was higher than that in northern provinces, and all bamboo residue and herbaceous fruit plant residue were produced in southern China. The annual PFRP distribution density ranged from 0.66 t km⁻² in Qinghai to 181.43 t km⁻² in Hainan, and increased from southeast to northeast China. The annual collectable forestry residue was estimated at 71.97±7.4 Mt, which amounted to a bio-electricity potential of 130.77±13.38 TWh.