A rowing exercise machine, comprising: a base (1), a seat (2), a rotation disc (3), oar units (4), a damping mechanism (6) and a transmission mechanism (7). The base (1) has a stand (11) and a sliding rail (12) obliquely disposed. The seat (2) is slidably fitted on the sliding rail (12). The rotation disc (3) is rotatably mounted on the stand (11) through a fixed rotation shaft (31). Two oar units (4) are connected to two ends of the rotation shaft (31) respectively through one-way bearings (51) to drive the rotation disc (3) to rotate in one direction when the oar units (4) are rowed. The damping mechanism (6) is mounted on the stand (11). The transmission mechanism (7) is mounted on the stand (11) and connected between the rotation disc (3) and the damping mechanism (6), to drive a damping wheel (61) of the damping mechanism (6) to rotate when the rotation disc (3) is rotating.
