A bathymetric model for the South China Sea is computed from altimeter-derived gravity anomalies, shipborne depths, ETOPO5, and the GMT shorelines using a procedure that includes downward continuation, linear regression, and data merging. The model best fits the GMT shorelines and is a compromise between smoothness, degree of agreement with ship data, and the seafloor features we wish to retain. The model is proven useful in studying the tectonics and modeling the ocean tide of the South China Sea.