As China's engagement in low‐income countries has deepened, particularly in Africa, so has criticism of China's development programmes and practices. New developments in Africa and the international aid architecture warrant a re‐examination of China's foreign assistance and development architecture, and its capacity in managing this growing engagement. This article outlines the modes of Chinese foreign assistance, the institutional arrangements and the principles that guide it. It argues that, while China's foreign aid has been characterised by several strengths, including its practical orientation, its consistency of principles, and its focus on high‐level exchanges, these same features may also be fault lines for both the future effectiveness of China's aid programmes, and its international reputation as a rising power in development. Evaluation and future reform of China's aid architecture is needed in order to enhance China's aid capacity and effectiveness.