The suicide bomber died and three embassy employees, all Kyrgyz nationals, were injured, Deputy PM Zhenish Razakov said.
The chief of security at the Chinese embassy told the local AKIpress news agency that no Chinese were hurt.
Social media footage showed smoke billowing above the building.
Other images showed broken glass and concrete.
The vehicle reportedly smashed through the gates and exploded in the centre of the compound, close to the ambassador's residence.
