Abstract: In order to further understand the distribution pattern of the Mesozoic strata in the southern East China Sea Shelf Basin, this paper deals with the lithofacies assemblages and stratigraphic distribution in the southern East China Sea Shelf Basin and its adjacent areas, upon the geological and geophysical data recently acquired from seismic survey, drilling, gravity-magnetic survey and field observations. The results suggest that the Mesozoic strata in the adjacent areas of the basin are widely distributed and characterized by heterogeneous sedimentary sequences and strong volcanic activities, whereas the Mesozoic strata in the basin cover an extensive area with a large thickness over 6000 m, which is thick in the south and east, but thin in the north and west'. There are obvious differences between the land and the sea:the land is more affected by volcanic activities and dominated by continental volcanic deposits, while the sea area is less affected by volcanic activities and dominated by lacustrine deposits under the influence of marine transgression. The sediments become finer and darker in the basin.Therefore, the sea area is more favorable for hydrocarbon exploration.