legal ground
Article 25 of the Patent Law of People's Republic of China (PRC)
No patent right shall be granted for the following items:
(1) scientific discoveries;
(2) rules and methods of intellectual activities;
(3) Methods of diagnosis and treatment of diseases;
(4) Species of animals and plants;
(5) Nuclear transformation methods and substances obtained by nuclear transformation methods;
(six) the design of the pattern, color or the combination of the two.
The production method of the products listed in Item (4) of the preceding paragraph may be granted a patent right in accordance with the provisions of this Law.