Objective To investigate the clinical data of hospitalized patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) so as to provide basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods All hospitalized patients with CRF in Nephrology Department of China-Japan Friendship Hospital from January 2009 to December 2010 were included. Results A total of 956 patients with CRF were investigated, accounting for 44.4% of the total hospitalized patients in the hospital. There were 527 males and 429 females; 670 cases from urban (city and municipal area) and 286 cases from countryside (county, town and village); 90 cases of chronic kidney disease 2(CKD2), 228 cases of CKD3, 160 cases of CKD4, and 478 cases of CKD5. Their age ranged from 16-89 years[(53.8±17.5) years], including 185 cases ≤35 years, 366 cases at age of 36-59 years, and 405 cases≥60 years. First diagnosis of CRF was established in 691 patients(72.3%), among which there were 357 patients needing dialysis treatment, accounting for 37.3%. The causes of CRF included chronic glomerulonephritis (23.8%), diabetic nephropathy (16.7%), hypertensive renal damage (8.2%), polycystic kidney disease (2.5%), lupus nephritis (1.4%). But, there were still 32.2% of patients with unknown cause. Conclusion There are more CRF patients from urban than from countryside. There are more middle aged or elderly CRF patients than young CRF patients. The main causes of CRF include chronic glomerulonephritis, diabetes, hypertension, polycystic kidney disease, etc. But there are still considerable number of patients without accurate cause. Near 3/4 patients get the first diagnosis of CRF.