Burden of viral gastroenteritis in children living in rural China: population-based surveillance.

•Rotavirus vaccine has not been introduced into the national immunization program and norovirus vaccines are being developed without a comprehensive understanding of epidemiology in China.•Population-based diarrhea surveillance was conducted in children <5 years of age in the rural north and south of China.•Rotavirus and norovirus are the two most important viral pathogens causing childhood diarrhea in rural China.•Vaccines to protect against rotavirus and norovirus are desirable for prevention of childhood diarrhea in China.