Abstract The resource consumption of the Chinese society from 1981 to 2001 is investigated by ecological footprint (EF) as an aggregate indicator. Based on the theory of ecological thermodynamics, a modified calculation of ecological footprint termed as embodied exergy ecological footprint (EEEF) in contrast to the conventional one is performed and related overall trends of the Chinese society 1981–2001 are analyzed. The annual policy for the individual sector is described in detail corresponding to the EF and EEEF components. Comparison of the conventional EF and the EEEF based on different views of ecological production is outlined. The EF intensity and EEEF intensity are also presented to depict the resource consumption level corresponding to unit economic output. Finally, EEEF is suggested to serve as a modified indicator of EF towards illustrating the productions of the resource, environment, population and thereby reflecting the ecological overshoot of the general ecological system.