Objective To investigate the demands of continuing medical education (CME) on geriatrics in China. Methods A total of 123 attendants of 2012 Peking Union Medical College Hospital-Johns Hopkins Hospital (PUMCH-JHU) Geriatric Conference were investigated through a self-designed questionnaire. Results The attendants had a better understanding on geriatric syndromes, such as dementia (95.9%), incontinence (95.1%) and falls (94.3%), but a poor understanding on syncope (67.5%) and elder abuse (51.2%). Awareness and acceptance of living wills were 41.5% and 25.2% respectively. Only 42.3% subjects had correct concept of geriatric medicine. However, the participants had urgent desire to attend CME on geriatrics. Conclusion Geriatric knowledge should be improved among medical workers, and it must be carried out through different forms of CME.