As a vital constituent of water's optical properties, the absorption coefficients influence the distribution of underwater light field, consequently impacting the structures and functional patterns of riverine ecosystems. In this study, the light absorption of non-algal particulates (ad(?), m-1), phytoplankton (aph(?), m-1) and CDOM (ag(?), m-1) of 380 water samples collected from 133 rivers in eight external river basins across China from 2013 to 2023 were examined to determine the optical absorption characteristics. Results showed significant differences in ad(?), aph(?) and ag(?) across different basins. The water bodies of eight basins can be categorized into 5 dominant types of absorption coefficients. In eastern China, ag(440) exhibited a northeast-high and southwest-low spatial distribution pattern. The Songliao River Basin had the highest ag(440) than other basins. The higher slope S of ag(?) in rivers compared to lakes and reservoirs confirm river water primarily derive CDOM from external sources, distinguishing them from lakes and reservoirs. The Huaihe and Haihe River Basins had higher ad(440) and aph(440) values, primarily due to lower terrain and human activities, leading to the accumulation of suspended particles and nutrients. And soil erosion from the Loess Plateau caused significant differences in ad(440) between the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River Basin. These findings hold significant implications for understanding the optical characteristics of rivers in China.