Fig.1 Distribution and tectonic setting of sedimentary basins in China. ①—Southern Margin of Central Tienshan Crust Suture Zone (Hantengeri Peak-Baruntai-Kumishi Fault); ②—Xiramrun Crust Suture Zone; ③—Kangxiwa-Xiugou-Mozitan Suture Zone; ④—Helanshan-Sichuan-Yunnnan Orogenic Belt; ⑤—North-South-trending Gravitational Gradient Zone; ⑥—Altyn Tagh Strike-slip Fault Zone; ⑦—Tanlu Srike-slip Fault Zone.

Fig.2 Tectonostratigraphic sequences and tectonic evolution cycles of multi-cycle superimposed sedimentary basins in China

Fig.3 Cartoon illustrating the formation and evolution of sedimentary basins in China mainland in the Phanrozoic ①—Stage of independent developments of ocean and continent in the Early Paleozoic; ②—Stage of soft-collision and transition in the Late Paleozoic; ③—Stage of coupled developments of basin and mountain in the Mesozoic featuring a “high in the east, low in the west” topography; ④—Stage of mosaic moldings of basin and mountain in the Cenozoic with a “high in the west, low in the east” topography

Fig.4 Structural cross-sections of three foreland/cratonic-basin superimposed basins—the Ordos Basin (a), Sichuan Basin (b), and Tarim Basin (c)

Fig.5 Structural cross-sections of three foreland/sag superimposed basins—the Junggar Basin (a), Turpan-Hami Basin (b), and Santanghu Basin (c)

Fig.6 Structural cross-section of the Songliao sag/faulted-depression superimposed basin

Fig.7 Structural cross-section of the Bohai Bay faulted-depression/cratonic-sag superimposed basin

Fig.8 Representative structural cross-sections of inverted faulted-depression superimposed basins (a) NW-SE-trending section of the Jianghan Basin. (b) NW-SE-trending section of the northern Jiangsu Basin.

Fig.9 Structural cross-section of the Pearl River Mouth passive-margin/faulted-depression superimposed basin

Fig.10 Structural cross-sections of the (a) Qaidam, (b) Qiangtang and (c) Lunpola basins

Fig.11 Distribution map of the source rock and oil and gas fields of the Qaidam Basin

Fig.12 Distribution map of the source rock and oil and gas fields of the Junggar Basin

Fig.13 Oil and gas pool-formation models for the superimposed sedimentary basins in China

Fig.14 Oil and gas field distribution map of the Ordos Basin, with the line indicating the location of the structural cross-section shown before (see Fig.4a)

Fig.15 Oil and gas field distribution map of the Tarim Basin, with the solid black line indicating the location of the structural cross-section shown before (see Fig.4c)

Fig.16 Oil and gas field distribution map of the Bohai Bay Basin

Fig.17 Oil and gas distribution map of Songliao Basin, with the solid black line indicating the location of the structural cross-section shown before (see Fig.6)

Fig.18 Oil and gas distribution map of Sichuan Basin, with the solid black line indicating the location of the structural cross-section shown before (see Fig.4b)