Practicing the concept and methodology of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) contributes to safeguarding the stability and sustainability of agricultural production in China amidst the challenges of climate change. This research focuses on the nine major agricultural regions in China, utilizing provincial panel data from 2010 to 2021. The study employs entropy weighting, the balanced development index model, and the obstacle degree model to empirically investigate the Climate-Smart Agriculture Development Index (CSA-DI), the Balanced Development Index of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA-BDI), and the obstacles to CSA development in each region. The results showed that from 2010 to 2021, the CSA-DI and CSA-BDI exhibit an overall upward trajectory, particularly notable in the Sichuan Basin and its surrounding areas, the Northeast Plain, the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. Despite the positive strides in the systematic, holistic, and synergistic principles of key production areas, opportunities for enhancement persist in areas such as food security, adaptability, and the mitigation of agricultural carbon emissions. Certain agricultural regions face challenges, including overdependence on resource endowments and difficulties in harmonizing economic and agricultural development. Based on the evaluation results, this study suggests a number of policy changes, such as aligning with modular development plans, setting boundaries to protect resources, using CSA technologies in a planned way, and moving forward with full trials of the “integration of agriculture, forestry, and animal husbandry”. These recommendations aim to foster the development of CSA in different regions, facilitating the sharing of achievements and shared responsibility for sustainable outcomes.