This paper analyzes the first differences of the annual means (annual rate) for the Y and Z components of the geomagnetic field from nine magnetic observatories in China, measured from 1985 to 2003. The 1991 jerk was obvious in the Y component measured but not clear for the Z component. Rapid changes in the Z components were ubiquitous around 2000 -2001, but not seen for the Y component. External effects were removed from the monthly means by comparing the monthly mean of the geomagnetic field components at the observatories with the monthly time series of the Ap geomagnetic index. However, some examples were analyzed and showed whether external effects were removed or not, there was no marked distinction in determining the jerks in China for the Y component and the Z component of the geomagnetic field. Finally, the isolines of the first differences of the annual means were used to analyze the spatial and temporal distributions of the jerks.