People-Centered　Early　Warning　Systems　(PCEWSs)　is　thought　to　be　low-cost　but　effective,　however,　existing　studies　fail　to　discuss　the　basic　characteristics　of　PCEWSs,　how　a　PCEWSs　should　be　built,　and　the　extensible　applications　of　PCEWSs.　This　study　aims　for　making　a　significant　contribution　to　the　literature　through　the　analysis　of　the　PCEWSs　trajectory　of　and　fundamental　shifts　in　policy　pertaining　to　PCEWSs　in　the　disaster　domain　in　China.　By　using　bibliometric　analysis　of　policy　documents,　this　study　presents　a　comprehensive　review　of　China＇s　PCEWS　policy　system　from　1977　to　March　2020,　which　focuses　on　various　types　of　disasters.　The　characteristics　of　policies　and　the　contributing　factors　of　the　policy　changes　in　each　of　the　four　phases　are　discussed　in　depth.　Four　main　tendencies　of　PCEWSs　are　identified.　This　study　provides　a　quantitative　foundation　for　understanding　the　dynamic　policy　changes　in　China＇s　PCEWSs　and　certain　experience　includes　the　disaster　characteristics　that　PCEWSs　are　suitable　to　get　involved,　the　orientation　that　experience　and　technology　should　be　combined　and　multi　agent　participation　which　calls　for　more　emphasis　may　serve　as　a　basis　for　exploring　the　potential　pathways　to　the　effective　PCWSs　in　other　countries　and　regions.　©　2020　Elsevier　Ltd