(1)　Objectives:　This　study　aims　to　investigate　the　bidirectional　relationship　between　depressive　symptoms　and　cognitive　function　among　older　adults　in　China,　addressing　a　research　gap　in　the　context　of　developing　nations.　(2)　Methods:　A　total　of　3813　adults　aged　60　and　older　participating　in　2013,　2015,　and　2018　waves　of　the　China　Health　and　Retirement　Longitudinal　Study　(CHARLS)　were　included.　A　fixed-effects　model　and　cross-lagged　panel　model　(CLPM)　was　utilized.　(3)　Results:　First,　the　results　indicated　that　a　significant　negative　correlation　existed　between　depressive　symptoms　and　cognitive　function　in　older　adults　during　the　study　period　(beta　=　-0.084,　p　＜　0.001).　Second,　after　controlling　for　unobserved　confounding　factors,　the　deterioration　and　improvement　of　depressive　symptoms　still　significantly　affected　cognitive　function　(beta　=　-0.055,　p　＜　0.001).　Third,　using　the　cross-lagged　panel　model,　we　observed　a　reciprocal　relationship　between　depressive　symptoms　(Dep)　and　cognitive　function　(Cog)　among　Chinese　older　adults　(Dep2013　-＞　Cog2015,　beta　=　-0.025,　p　＜　0.01;　Dep2015　-＞　Cog2018,　beta　=　-0.028,　p　＜　0.001;　Cog2013　-＞　Dep2015,　beta　=　-0.079,　p　＜　0.01;　Cog2015　-＞　Dep2018,　beta　=　-0.085,　p　＜　0.01).　(4)　Discussion:　The　reciprocal　relationship　between　depressive　symptoms　and　cognitive　functioning　in　older　adults　emphasizes　the　need　for　integrated　public　health　policies　and　clinical　interventions,　to　develop　comprehensive　intervention　strategies　that　simultaneously　address　depressive　symptoms　and　cognitive　decline.