This thesis examines the effect of the 2008 financial crisis on financial constraints of Chinese listed firms. Firm ownership and registered area, together with other important financial characteristics are taken into account. Based on firm-level panel data for 2006-2011, results show that family-controlled firms face weaker financial constraints after 2008 than before while state-owned firms bear greater constraints. On the other hand, based on firm-level panel data for 1998-2011, results show that firms in municipalities and autonomous regions bear weaker financial constraints than firms in ordinary provinces and special economic zones.