Aim To assess the attitudes of newly graduated nurses in China toward their work environment and identify the factors affecting their perception. Background Newly graduated nurses are the primary supply to cover the nursing shortage, but their stressful transition into clinical work has contributed to high turnover for decades. Although serving as a source of stress, the work environment can also be a source of support for new nurses. Methods A total of 2361 new nurses at 31 tertiary hospitals in 20 provinces were surveyed from June to November 2018, using the Chinese version of the Practice Environment Scale-Nursing Work Index. Basic information and their perception about work environment were collected. Results New nurses rated their work environment with an overall score of 84.67 (12.85). Multiple linear regression identified that education level, monthly income, hospital type and location, participation (or not) in standardized training programmes and having (or not) a mentor/preceptor were factors significantly associated with their perception of the work environment. Conclusion The perception of newly graduated nurses in China was mainly positive overall. Nursing managers may take full advantage of factors affecting the perception of work environment to support newly graduated nurses better, to help their retention and transition. Summary statement What is already known about the topic? Newly graduated nurses experience transition shock at the beginning of their work. Supportive work environments can help successful transition. What this paper adds? Newly graduated nurses are not fully supported in their work environment. Staffing and resource inadequacy were the poorest environmental factors. Residency programmes had the most impact on the perceptions of newly graduated nurses about their work environment. Implications for nursing practice: These results can guide nursing managers to support the newly graduated nurses better in their transition process, thus helping retention of nursing human resource.