Background. Several studies have provided ample evidence that hypertension in adults has its onset in childhood; children and adolescents with elevated blood pressure (BP) are more likely to become hypertensive adults. The present study examined the prevalence of relatively high BP among children and adolescents in Shandong, China. Subjects and methods. Data for this study were obtained from a large cross-sectional survey of schoolchildren carried out in 2010. A total of 38 860 students (19 481 boys and 19 379 girls) aged 7 to 17 years participated in this study. Relatively high BP status was defined as systolic blood pressure and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥95th percentile for age and gender. Results. Shandong children had a high BP level, with the 50th percentiles of systolic and diastolic blood pressure of children and adolescents aged 7 to 17 years in Shandong being above the reference values for Chinese children and adolescents by 3 to 12 mm Hg and 3 to 7 mm Hg for boys, and by 3 to 6 mm Hg and 3 to 5 mmHg for girls, respectively. The overall prevalence of relatively high BP was 26.22% for boys and 20.27% for girls. Conclusion. There is a high prevalence of relatively high BP among children and adolescents in Shandong, China. It has become a threatening hazard to children and adolescents and should arouse special attention.