China　is　one　of　the　largest　fluorescent　lamps　consuming　and　producing　countries　in　the　world.　However,　there　are　few　studies　evaluating　environmental　impacts　of　fluorescent　lamps　in　China.　This　study　compared　the　environmental　impacts　of　two　lighting　systems　in　China　-　compact　fluorescent　lamps　and　linear　fluorescent　lamps　-　throughout　the　life　cycle.　The　methodological　framework　is　based　on　the　ISO　standards　14040　and　14044.　All　the　materials,　energy　use　and　pollutant　emissions　to　the　environment　from　each　process　were　analyzed.　The　environmental　impact　was　estimated　for　the　7　environmental　impact　categories:　Abiotic　Depletion　Potential,　Global　Warming　Potential,　Acidification　Potential,　Eutrophication　Potential,　Respiratory　Inorganics,　Waste　Solids　and　Water　Use.　The　results　indicated　that　the　environment　burden　of　the　products　was　highest　in　the　use　phase　due　to　electricity　use.　Impact　caused　by　distribution　and　disposal　can　be　neglected.　According　to　the　analyzed　environmental　impact　categories　and　from　an　environmental　point　of　view　the　linear　fluorescent　lamp　is　more　appropriate　source　of　light　than　compact　fluorescent　lamps.