WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC?: Physical inactivity among older adults is increasing globally. Analyzing the characteristics and influencing factors of physical activity patterns (PAPs) can inform the design of targeted physical activity (PA) promotion strategies for diverse subgroups. WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT?: Analysis of national data from 2020 revealed three distinct PAPs among Chinese older adults across life domains: low activity (LA) cluster (53.3%), active leisure (AL) cluster (31.4%), and active home (AH) cluster (15.3%). The AL cluster demonstrated superior psychological status, physical fitness, and built environment conditions compared to both AH and LA clusters. The AH cluster exhibited better physical fitness and built environment characteristics than the LA cluster. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE?: The distinct characteristics among clusters suggest that targeted interventions and policies may be beneficial for each subgroup. These interventions should incorporate enhanced psychosocial support, built environment modifications, and evidence-based guidance for physical fitness improvement, specifically tailored to each cluster's unique characteristics and needs.