【Purpose】The appropriate diagnostic protocol for children with syncope has not been well established. The present study was undertaken to develop a diagnostic protocol for Chinese children with syncope.【Methods】The study population included 474 consecutive patients (212 males; range 6–17 years) presenting with a syncopal spell in one of the five participating hospitals of China. In step 1, all patients underwent initial evaluation for history, physical examination, standing test and standard electrocardiography (ECG). In step 2, priority was given to cardiographic tests for possibly cardiogenic syncope, or electroencephalographic examination and brain imaging for suspected neurological syncope, or psychiatric tests for suspected psychiatric syncope. Patients with unexplained syncope underwent head-up tilt testing (HUT) alone or potentiated with nitroglycerine.【Results】The initial evaluation gave a definite diagnosis in 59 (12.4%) and possible diagnosis in 54 of the 474 patients. Further testing gave a definite diagnosis for 326 patients (69.7%). After the entire diagnostic protocol, definite diagnosis was established in 385 patients (81.1%). Autonomic-mediated reflex syncope accounted for 73.0% of cases. The cost of diagnostic results per patient was $103.24 ± 15.09.【Conclusion】The use of a simplified diagnostic protocol for children and adolescents with syncope improves diagnostic yield.