SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
item
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Segment reporting      
Number of operating segments 4    
Number of reportable segments 4    
Number of geographic segments 0    
Segment and geographic information      
Revenues $ 74,517 $ 85,388 $ 54,597
Cost of revenues (35,357) (35,795) (31,314)
General and administrative expenses (including share-based compensation expense of US$10,479, US$166 and US$211 in 2011, 2012 and 2013) (13,258) (20,348) (28,896)
Impairment loss on goodwill 0 0 (11,388)
Impairment loss on long-lived assets (3,549) 0 (11,590)
Interest income 98 84 101
Interest expense (22,568) (28,070) (24,757)
Changes in fair value of warrant liabilities 839 (399) 951
Exchange (loss) gain (41) 28 (851)
Other (loss) income, net 275 507 (334)
Income tax benefit (expense) (3,474) (6,451) (1,527)
Net loss from continuing operations (2,518) (5,056) (55,008)
Income (Loss) from discontinued operations (net of income tax expense of US$399, US$101 and US$152 for the year ended on December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively)   1,140 (282)
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations (net of income tax expense of US$959)   2,767  
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations   3,907 (282)
Net loss (2,518) (1,149) (55,290)
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests 297 (94) 9,901
Net loss attributable to China Hydroelectric Corporation shareholders (2,221) (1,243) (45,389)
Total assets 737,242 754,316 814,915
Total liabilities (334,613) (361,801) (420,037)
Capital expenditures 1,627 7,496 7,532
Depreciation and amortization expenses 23,524 23,068 22,046
Share-based compensation expense 211 166 10,479
Income tax expense (benefit) from discontinued operations 0 399 101
Income tax expense, gain on disposal of discontinued operations 0 959 0
Operating Segments | Yunnan Province
      
Segment and geographic information      
Revenues 14,608 13,460 13,806
Cost of revenues (9,069) (8,540) (8,349)
General and administrative expenses (including share-based compensation expense of US$10,479, US$166 and US$211 in 2011, 2012 and 2013) (1,534) (2,108) (1,519)
Impairment loss on goodwill     (5,260)
Interest income 340 236 180
Interest expense (7,726) (9,039) (8,468)
Exchange (loss) gain     (28)
Other (loss) income, net 37 136 (285)
Income tax benefit (expense) 43 72 (142)
Net loss from continuing operations (3,301) (5,783) (10,065)
Net loss (3,301) (5,783) (10,065)
Net loss attributable to China Hydroelectric Corporation shareholders (3,301) (5,783) (10,065)
Total assets 197,995 192,843 200,681
Total liabilities (117,524) (131,872) (133,670)
Capital expenditures 124 877 1,763
Depreciation and amortization expenses 5,633 5,546 5,181
Operating Segments | Sichuan Province
      
Segment and geographic information      
Revenues 373 598 555
Cost of revenues (634) (689) (568)
General and administrative expenses (including share-based compensation expense of US$10,479, US$166 and US$211 in 2011, 2012 and 2013) (193) (269) (86)
Impairment loss on long-lived assets (3,549)    
Interest income 365 121 10
Interest expense (557) (260)  
Other (loss) income, net   22  
Income tax benefit (expense) 15 (5) 5
Net loss from continuing operations (4,180) (482) (84)
Net loss (4,180) (482) (84)
Net loss attributable to China Hydroelectric Corporation shareholders (4,180) (482) (84)
Total assets 21,135 22,790 15,896
Total liabilities (7,144) (8,092) (753)
Capital expenditures 29 1,384 1,128
Depreciation and amortization expenses 482 477 344
Operating Segments | Zhejiang Province
      
Segment and geographic information      
Revenues 36,000 41,616 25,382
Cost of revenues (16,610) (16,978) (15,034)
General and administrative expenses (including share-based compensation expense of US$10,479, US$166 and US$211 in 2011, 2012 and 2013) (1,909) (2,569) (1,148)
Interest income 1,801 838 128
Interest expense (10,128) (10,550) (8,565)
Other (loss) income, net (18) (81) (36)
Income tax benefit (expense) (2,245) (3,831) (843)
Net loss from continuing operations 6,891 8,445 (116)
Net loss 6,891 8,445 (116)
Net loss attributable to China Hydroelectric Corporation shareholders 6,891 8,445 (116)
Total assets 346,886 344,923 318,616
Total liabilities (128,690) (145,312) (138,688)
Capital expenditures 233 3,973 3,031
Depreciation and amortization expenses 10,437 10,136 9,837
Operating Segments | Fujian Province
      
Segment and geographic information      
Revenues 23,536 29,714 14,854
Cost of revenues (12,393) (13,133) (10,874)
General and administrative expenses (including share-based compensation expense of US$10,479, US$166 and US$211 in 2011, 2012 and 2013) (2,423) (3,413) (2,276)
Impairment loss on goodwill     (6,128)
Interest income 702 1,713 1,709
Interest expense (7,160) (10,787) (9,669)
Exchange (loss) gain   (1) (244)
Other (loss) income, net 91 420 (158)
Income tax benefit (expense) (843) (2,480) 115
Net loss from continuing operations 1,510 2,033 (12,671)
Income (Loss) from discontinued operations (net of income tax expense of US$399, US$101 and US$152 for the year ended on December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively)   959 (631)
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations   959 (631)
Net loss 1,510 2,992 (13,302)
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests 297 (94) 2,546
Net loss attributable to China Hydroelectric Corporation shareholders 1,807 2,898 (10,756)
Total assets 288,735 289,702 374,296
Total liabilities (123,843) (129,627) (185,330)
Capital expenditures 1,228 1,305 645
Depreciation and amortization expenses 6,839 6,767 6,569
Unallocated
      
Segment and geographic information      
Cost of revenues (8)    
General and administrative expenses (including share-based compensation expense of US$10,479, US$166 and US$211 in 2011, 2012 and 2013) (7,154) (11,989) (23,867)
Impairment loss on long-lived assets     (11,601)
Interest income 2 3 66
Interest expense (109) (247) (73)
Changes in fair value of warrant liabilities 839 (399) 951
Exchange (loss) gain (41) 29 (579)
Other (loss) income, net 3,477 3,736 4,033
Income tax benefit (expense) (444) (207) (662)
Net loss from continuing operations (3,438) (9,074) (31,732)
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations (net of income tax expense of US$959)   2,767  
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations   2,767  
Net loss (3,438) (6,307) (31,732)
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests     7,355
Net loss attributable to China Hydroelectric Corporation shareholders (3,438) (6,307) (24,377)
Total assets 437,477 426,518 421,650
Total liabilities (28,315) (27,799) (20,498)
Capital expenditures 13 15 970
Depreciation and amortization expenses 133 142 115
Eliminations
      
Segment and geographic information      
Cost of revenues 3,357 3,545 3,511
General and administrative expenses (including share-based compensation expense of US$10,479, US$166 and US$211 in 2011, 2012 and 2013) (45)    
Impairment loss on long-lived assets     11
Interest income (3,112) (2,827) (1,992)
Interest expense 3,112 2,813 2,018
Other (loss) income, net (3,312) (3,726) (3,888)
Net loss from continuing operations   (195) (340)
Income (Loss) from discontinued operations (net of income tax expense of US$399, US$101 and US$152 for the year ended on December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively)   181 349
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations   181 349
Net loss   (14) 9
Net loss attributable to China Hydroelectric Corporation shareholders   (14) 9
Total assets (554,986) (522,460) (516,224)
Total liabilities 70,903 80,901 58,902
Capital expenditures   $ (58) $ (5)