Bryum austriacum K?ckinger, Holyoak & Suanjak is reported new to China from the Qilian Mountains in Qinghai Province. The species is characterized by delicate, pale-coloured plants; imbricate and strongly concave leaves with very large, loose, and thin-walled cells; abundant dark red-brown ovoid bulbils with 3-5 (7) small and translucence leaf primordia, occurring singly in each leaf axils. The newly recorded species possibly originated from Central Asia. It appears to be a pioneer mainly on humus- and base-rich soil in alpine meadows. An identification key for bulbiferous species of Bryum in China is provided.