Injury-related hospitalisations in a rural county in China from 1994 to 2005 were analysed for trend and rate by demographics. Traffic-related hospitalisation increased from 25.5 per 100 000 in 1994-1996 to 57.9 in 2003-2005, and overtook assaults as the leading cause of injury. Motorcyclists, pedestrians and bicyclists accounted for 41%, 22% and 19% of traffic-related hospitalisations. Compared with females, males had a higher risk of traffic-related hospitalisations (rate ratio (RR) 2.38, 95% CI 1.89 to 3.00), falls (RR 1.64, 95% CI 1.11 to 2.42) and assaults (RR 4.29, 95% CI 3.23 to 5.69). Relative to 25-59-year-olds, 15-24-year-olds were at increased risk of traffic crashes (RR 1.76, 95% CI 1.37 to 2.25) and assaults (RR 1.56, 95% CI 1.21 to 2.01), and adults aged 60 years or older were at increased risk of falls (RR 2.58, 95% CI 1.61 to 4.14). Priority should be given to prevention of traffic injuries among motorcyclists, pedestrians and bicyclists, assaults among male adolescents and young adults, and falls among older adults.