Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Quaternary integrative stratigraphy and timescale of China

  • Review
  • Published:
Science China Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Quaternary strata in China mainly comprise continental deposits in a variety of depositional settings. The continental Quaternary in temperate northern China consists mainly of eolian and fluvio-lacustrine deposits; that in subtropical southern China, mainly of vermiculated red soils, cave/fissure deposits, and fluvio-lacustrine deposits; and that in the alpine Tibetan Plateau, mainly of fluvio-lacustrine and piedmont deposits. The marine Quaternary in China consists of detrital deposits and biogenic reef deposits. The integration of biostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, climatostratigraphy and an astronomically calibrated chronology has led to the establishment of high-precision climatochronostratigraphic timescales for the detrital marine Quaternary in the South China Sea and the loess-paleosol sequence in the Chinese Loess Plateau. Extremely high-precision 230Th dating has provided a high-precision absolute age model for cave stalagmites over the past 640000 years as well as high-resolution oxygen isotope records representing orbital- to suborbital-scale climate changes. By combining magnetic stratigraphy and biostratigraphy, robust chronostratigraphic frameworks for non-eolian continental Quaternary deposits on the scale of Quaternary geomagnetic polarities have been established. The continental Pleistocene Series consists, from oldest to youngest, of the Nihewanian Stage of the Lower Pleistocene, the Zhoukoudianian Stage of the Middle Pleistocene, and the Salawusuan Stage of the Upper Pleistocene. Stages of the continental Holocene Series have not yet been established. This review summarizes recent developments in the Quaternary chronostratigraphy of representative Quaternary strata and associated faunas, and then proposes an integrative chronostratigraphic framework and a stratigraphic correlation scheme for Quaternary continental strata in China. In the near-future, it is hoped to establish not only a Chinese continental Quaternary climatochronostratigraphic chart on the scale of glacial-interglacial cycles but also a Quaternary integrative chronostratigraphic chart including both continental and marine strata in China.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aguirre E, Pasini G. 1985. The Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary. Episodes, 8: 116–120

    Google Scholar 

  • An Z S, Clemens S C, Shen J, Qiang X K, Jin Z D, Sun Y B, Prell W L, Luo J J, Wang S M, Xu H. 2011. Glacial-interglacial Indian summer monsoon dynamics. Science, 333: 719–723

    Google Scholar 

  • An Z S, Ho C K. 1989. New magnetostratigraphic dates of Lantian Homo erectus. Quat Res, 32: 213–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Bae C J, Wang W, Zhao J, Huang S, Tian F, Shen G. 2014. Modern human teeth from Late Pleistocene Luna Cave (Guangxi, China). Quat Int, 354: 169–183

    Google Scholar 

  • Barbour G B. 1924. Preliminary observations in the Kalgan Area. Bull Geol Soc China, 3: 153–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Bien M N. 1940. Preliminary observation on the Cenozoic geology of Yunnan. Bull Geol Soc China, 20: 179–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Black D, Teilhard de Chardin P, Young C C, Pei W C. 1933. Fossil Man in China: The Choukoutien cave deposits with a synopsis of our present knowledge of the Late Cenozoic in China. Mem Geol Survey China (Ser A), 11: 1–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen T M, Yuan S X, Gao S J, Wang L X, Zhao G Y. 1982. Dating of the Peking Man site: Uranium series dating of the Xujiayao (Hsü-Chia-Yao) site (in Chinese). Acta Anthropol Sin, 1: 91–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen T M, Zhou L P. 2009. Dating of the Peking Man site: A comparison between existing chronology and the 26Al/10Be burial ages (in Chinese). Acta Anthropol Sin, 28: 285–291

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng H, Edwards R L, Broecker W S, Denton G H, Kong X, Wang Y, Zhang R, Wang X. 2009. Ice age terminations. Science, 326: 248–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng H, Lawrence Edwards R, Shen C C, Polyak V J, Asmerom Y, Woodhead J, Hellstrom J, Wang Y, Kong X, Spötl C, Wang X, Calvin Alexander Jr. E. 2013. Improvements in 230Th dating, 230Th and 234U half-life values, and U-Th isotopic measurements by multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 371-372: 82–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng H, Edwards R L, Sinha A, Spötl C, Yi L, Chen S, Kelly M, Kathayat G, Wang X, Li X, Kong X, Wang Y, Ning Y, Zhang H. 2016. The Asian monsoon over the past 640000 years and ice age terminations. Nature, 534: 640–646

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng Y Q, Wang Z J, Huang Z G. 2009. Stratigraphical Lexicon of China (in Chinese). Beijing: Geological Publishing House. 1–411

    Google Scholar 

  • Chesner C A, Rose W I. 1991. Stratigraphy of the Toba Tuffs and the evolution of the Toba Caldera Complex, Sumatra, Indonesia. Bull Volcanol, 53: 343–356

    Google Scholar 

  • Chou M C. 1957. Characteristic and correlation of the Tertiary and early Quaternary mammalian faunas from southern China (in Chinese). Chin Sci Bull, 8: 394–400

    Google Scholar 

  • Chou M C. 1961. Occurrence of Enhydriodon at Yuanmo, Yunnan (in Chinese). Verteb PalAsia, 5: 164–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Ciochon R, Long V T, Larick R, Gonzalez L, Grun R, de Vos J, Yonge C, Taylor L, Yoshida H, Reagan M. 1996. Dated co-occurrence of Homo erectus and Gigantopithecus from Tham Khuyen Cave, Vietnam. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 93: 3016–3020

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng C. 2008. Paleomagnetic and mineral magnetic investigation of the Baicaoyuan loess-paleosol sequence of the western Chinese Loess Plateau over the last glacial-interglacial cycle and its geological implications. Geochem Geophys Geosyst, 9: Q04034

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng C, Liu Q, Wang W, Liu C. 2007. Chemical overprint on the natural remanent magnetization of a subtropical red soil sequence in the Bose Basin, southern China. Geophys Res Lett, 34: L22308

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng C, Xie F, Liu C, Ao H, Pan Y, Zhu R. 2007. Magnetochronology of the Feiliang Paleolithic site in the Nihewan Basin and implications for early human adaptability to high northern latitudes in East Asia. Geophys Res Lett, 34: L14301

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng C, Shaw J, Liu Q, Pan Y, Zhu R. 2006a. Mineral magnetic variation of the Jingbian loess/paleosol sequence in the northern Loess Plateau of China: Implications for Quaternary development of Asian aridification and cooling. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 241: 248–259

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng C, Wei Q, Zhu R, Wang H, Zhang R, Ao H, Chang L, Pan Y. 2006b. Magnetostratigraphic age of the Xiantai Paleolithic site in the Nihewan Basin and implications for early human colonization of Northeast Asia. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 244: 336–348

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng C, Zhu R, Zhang R, Ao H, Pan Y. 2008. Timing of the Nihewan formation and faunas. Quat Res, 69: 77–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng T. 2006. Chinese Neogene mammal biochronology (in Chinese). Verteb PalAsia, 44: 143–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng T, Xue X X. 1997. Redemonstrating the first appearance of the genus Equus as a sign of the lower boundary of the Quaternary (in Chinese). J Stratigr, 21: 109–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng T, Hou S K. 2011. The Mazegouan Stage of the continental Pliocene Series in China (in Chinese). J Stratigr, 35: 237–249

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng T, Hou S K, Wang T M, Mu Y Q. 2010. The Gaozhuangian Stage of the continental Pliocene Series in China (in Chinese). J Stratigr, 34: 225–240

    Google Scholar 

  • Ding Z L, Derbyshire E, Yang S L, Yu Z W, Xiong S F, Liu T S. 2002. Stacked 2.6-Ma grain size record from the Chinese loess based on five sections and correlation with the deep-sea δ 18O record. Paleoceanography, 17: 5–1–5-21

    Google Scholar 

  • Ding Z L, Liu T S. 1989. Progresses of loess research in China (Part 1): Loess stratigraphy (in Chinese). Quat Sci, 9: 24–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Ding Z L, Sun J M, Liu T S, Zhu R X, Yang S L, Guo B. 1998. Wind-blown origin of the Pliocene red clay formation in the central Loess Plateau, China. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 161: 135–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Ding Z, Yu Z, Rutter N W, Liu T. 1994. Towards an orbital time scale for chinese loess deposits. Quat Sci Rev, 13: 39–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Editorial Board of Chinese Geology, Institute of Geology of Academia Sinica. 1956. Chinese Regional Stratigraphic Chart (Draft) (in Chinese). Beijing: Science Press. 693

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards R, Chen J H, Wasserburg G J. 1987. 238U-234U-230Th-232Th systematics and the precise measurement of time over the past 500,000 years. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 81: 175–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Fang X. 2002. Loess in Kunlun Mountains and its implications on desert development and Tibetan Plateau uplift in west China. Sci China Ser D: Earth Sci, 45: 289–299

    Google Scholar 

  • Fu C, An Z, Qiang X, Bloemendal J, Song Y, Chang H. 2013. Magnetostratigraphic determination of the age of ancient Lake Qinghai, and record of the East Asian monsoon since 4.63 Ma. Geology, 41: 875–878

    Google Scholar 

  • Ge J, Guo Z, Zhan T, Yao Z, Deng C, Oldfield F. 2012. Magnetostratigraphy of the Xihe loess-soil sequence and implication for late Neogene deformation of the West Qinling Mountains. Geophys J Int, 189: 1399–1408

    Google Scholar 

  • Ge S L, Shi X F, Zhu R X, Liu Y G, Yin P, Liu L J. 2006. Magnetostratigraphy of borehole EY02-2 in the southern Yellow Sea and its paleoenvironmental significance. Chin Sci Bull, 51: 855–865

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbard P L, Head M J, Walker M J C. 2010. Formal ratification of the Quaternary System/Period and the Pleistocene Series/Epoch with a base at 2.58 Ma. J Quat Sci, 25: 96–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Gradstein F M, Ogg J G, Smith A G. 2004. A Geologic Time Scale 2004. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 589

    Google Scholar 

  • Gradstein F M, Ogg J G, Schmitz M D, Ogg G M. 2012. The Geologic Time Scale 2012. Amsterdam: Elsevier. 1144

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo Z T. 2017. Loess Plateau attests to the onsets of monsoon and deserts (in Chinese). Sci Sin Terrae, 47: 421–437

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo Z, Biscaye P, Wei L, Chen X, Peng S, Liu T. 2000. Summer monsoon variations over the last 1.2 Ma from the weathering of loess-soil sequences in China. Geophys Res Lett, 27: 1751–1754

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo Z T, Ruddiman W F, Hao Q Z, Wu H B, Qiao Y S, Zhu R X, Peng S Z, Wei J J, Yuan B Y, Liu T S. 2002. Onset of Asian desertification by 22 Myr ago inferred from loess deposits in China. Nature, 416: 159–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Han F, Bahain J J, Deng C, Boëda É, Hou Y, Wei G, Huang W, Garcia T, Shao Q, He C, Falguères C, Voinchet P, Yin G. 2017. The earliest evidence of hominid settlement in China: Combined electron spin resonance and uranium series (ESR/U-series) dating of mammalian fossil teeth from Longgupo cave. Quat Int, 434: 75–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Hao Q, Guo Z. 2004. Magnetostratigraphy of a late Miocene-Pliocene loess-soil sequence in the western Loess Plateau in China. Geophys Res Lett, 31: L09209

    Google Scholar 

  • Hao Q, Guo Z, Qiao Y, Xu B, Oldfield F. 2010. Geochemical evidence for the provenance of middle Pleistocene loess deposits in southern China. Quat Sci Rev, 29: 3317–3326

    Google Scholar 

  • Hao Q, Wang L, Oldfield F, Peng S, Qin L, Song Y, Xu B, Qiao Y, Bloemendal J, Guo Z. 2012. Delayed build-up of Arctic ice sheets during 400,000-year minima in insolation variability. Nature, 490: 393–396

    Google Scholar 

  • Heller F, Tung-sheng L. 1982. Magnetostratigraphical dating of loess deposits in China. Nature, 300: 431–433

    Google Scholar 

  • Heller F, Tungsheng L. 1984. Magnetism of Chinese loess deposits. Geophys J Int, 77: 125–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Heller F, Tung-sheng L. 1986. Palaeoclimatic and sedimentary history from magnetic susceptibility of loess in China. Geophys Res Lett, 13: 1169–1172

    Google Scholar 

  • Heslop D, Langereis C G, Dekkers M J. 2000. A new astronomical timescale for the loess deposits of Northern China. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 184: 125–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Hilgen F J, Lourens L J, Van Dam J A. 2012. The Neogene Period. In: Gradstein F M, Ogg J G, Schmitz M D, Ogg G M, eds. The Geologic Time Scale 2012, Vol. 2. Amsterdam: Elsevier. 923–978

    Google Scholar 

  • Hou L H. 1985. Fossil birds from Zhoukoudian Loc. 1. In: Wu R K et al. Multi-disciplinary Study of the Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian (in Chinese). Beijing: Science Press. 113–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Hou Y M, Potts R, Yuan B, Guo Z T, Deino A, Wang W, Clark J, Xie G, Huang W W. 2000. Mid-Pleistocene Acheulean-like stone technology of the Bose Basin, South China. Science, 287: 1622–1626

    Google Scholar 

  • Hovan S A, Rea D K, Pisias N G, Shackleton N J. 1989. A direct link between the China loess and marine δ 18O records: Aeolian flux to the north Pacific. Nature, 340: 296–298

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu C K. 1985. The history of mammalian fauna of Locality 1 of Zhoukoudian and its recent advances. In: Wu R K, ed. Multi-disciplinary Study of the Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian (in Chinese). Beijing: Science Press. 107–113

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang L. 1997. Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy in the Pearl River Mouth Basin, South China Sea, and Neogene reticulofenestrid coccoliths size distribution pattern. Mar Micropaleont, 32: 31–57

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang F C, Wu X H, Xiao H G, Zhao Z Z, Wang S M, Xue B. 1997. Age of the vermiculated red soil in Jiujiang area, central China (in Chinese). J Geomech, 3: 27–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Jin C Z, Qin D G, Pan W S, Tang Z L, Liu J Y, Wang Y, Deng C L, Zhang Y Q, Dong W, Tong H W. 2009. A newly discovered Gigantopithecus fauna from Sanhe Cave, Chongzuo, Guangxi, South China. Chin Sci Bull, 54: 788–797

    Google Scholar 

  • Jin C, Wang Y, Deng C, Harrison T, Qin D, Pan W, Zhang Y, Zhu M, Yan Y. 2014. Chronological sequence of the early Pleistocene Gigantopithecus faunas from cave sites in the Chongzuo, Zuojiang River area, South China. Quat Int, 354: 4–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Jin C Z, Zheng J J, Wang Y, Xu Q Q. 2008. The stratigraphic distribution and zoogeography of the Early Pleistocene mammalian fauna from South China (in Chinese). Acta Anthropol Sin, 27: 304–317

    Google Scholar 

  • Kong L J, Shen G J, Wang W, Li D W, Zhao J X. 2012. U-series dating of Shizi Cave and age of the third terrace of the Bubing and Baise Basins, Guangxi, China (in Chinese). Earth and Environ, 40: 349–353

    Google Scholar 

  • Kong P, Jia J, Zheng Y. 2013. Cosmogenic 26Al/10Be burial dating of the Paleolithic at Xihoudu, North China. J Human Evol, 64: 466–470

    Google Scholar 

  • Kukla G, Heller F, Ming L X, Chun X T, Sheng L T, Sheng A Z. 1988. Pleistocene climates in China dated by magnetic susceptibility. Geology, 16: 811–814

    Google Scholar 

  • Li B S, Jin H L, Zhu Y Z, Dong G R, Wen X H. 2004a. The Quaternary lithostrata in Salawusu River Valley and their geochronology (in Chinese). Acta Sediment Sin, 22: 676–682

    Google Scholar 

  • Li X, Zhao Q H, Huang B Q, Su X. 2004b. High-resolution age estimation of the Mid-Pleistocene impact event. Mar Geol Quat Geol, 24: 73–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Li X Q, Li C S, Lu H Y, Dodson J R, Wang Y F. 2004c. Paleovegetation and paleoclimate in middle-late Pliocene, Shanxi, central China. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol, 210: 57–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Li C K, Wu W Y, Qiu Z D. 1984. Chinese Neogene: subdivision and correlation (in Chinese). Verteb PalAsia, 22: 163–178

    Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Qian F, Ma X, Pu Q, Xing L, Ju S. 1976. Preliminary study on the age of the Yuanmou Man by paleomagnetic technique (in Chinese). Sci China, 6: 579–591

    Google Scholar 

  • Li S, Deng C, Yao H, Huang S, Liu C, He H, Pan Y, Zhu R. 2013. Magnetostratigraphy of the Dali Basin in Yunnan and implications for late Neogene rotation of the southeast margin of the Tibetan Plateau. J Geophys Res Solid Earth, 118: 791–807

    Google Scholar 

  • Li X S, Han Z Y, Lu H Y, Chen Y, Li Y, Yuan X K, Zhou Y W, Jiang M Y, Lv C J. 2018. Onset of Xiashu loess deposition in southern China by 0.9 Ma and its implications for regional aridification. Sci China Earth Sci, 61: 256–269

    Google Scholar 

  • Liang X R, Wei G J, Shao L, Li X H, Wang R C. 2001. Records of Toba eruptions in the South China Sea—Chemical characteristics of the glass shards from ODP 1143a. Sci China Ser D-Earth Sci, 44: 871–878

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu C, Zhu X Y, Ye S J. 1977. A palaeomagnetic study on the cave-deposits of Zhoukoudian (Choukoutian), the locality of Sinanthropus (in Chinese). Sci Geol Sin, 12: 26–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu C C, Deng C L, Liu Q S, Zheng L T, Wang W, Xu X M, Huang S, Yuan B Y. 2010a. Mineral magnetism to probe into the nature of palaeomagnetic signals of subtropical red soil sequences in southern China. Geophys J Int, 181: 1395–1410

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu L J, Xu H Z, Cui Q P, Wang J. 2010b. Study on Quaternary stratigraphic division on Hebei Plain (in Chinese). Geogr Geo-Inf Sci, 26: 54–57

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu C, Xu X, Yuan B, Deng C. 2008. Magnetostratigraphy of the Qiliting section (SE China) and its implication for geochronology of the red soil sequences in southern China. Geophys J Int, 174: 107–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Liu Q, Zhang X, Liu J, Wu Z, Mei X, Shi X, Zhao Q. 2016a. Magnetostratigraphy of a long Quaternary sediment core in the South Yellow Sea. Quat Sci Rev, 144: 1–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu P, Wu Z, Deng C, Tong H, Qin H, Li S, Yuan B, Zhu R. 2016b. Magnetostratigraphic dating of the Shanshenmiaozui mammalian fauna in the Nihewan Basin, North China. Quat Int, 400: 202–211

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu J X, Liu Q S, Shi X F, Wang C J, Chen J J. 2015. Progress of Quaternary chronological research in the Yellow Sea (in Chinese). Mar Geol Front, 31: 17–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Shi X, Liu Q, Ge S, Liu Y, Yao Z, Zhao Q, Jin C, Jiang Z, Liu S, Qiao S, Li X, Li C, Wang C. 2014. Magnetostratigraphy of a greigitebearing core from the South Yellow Sea: Implications for remagnetization and sedimentation. J Geophys Res Solid Earth, 119: 7425–7441

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu P, Deng C, Li S, Cai S, Cheng H, Baoyin Y, Wei Q, Zhu R. 2012. Magnetostratigraphic dating of the Xiashagou Fauna and implication for sequencing the mammalian faunas in the Nihewan Basin, North China. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol, 315-316: 75–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu T S. 1985. Loess and the Environment. Beijing: China Ocean Press. 251

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu T S, Shi Y F, Wang R J, Zhao Q H, Jian Z M, Cheng X R, Wang P X, Wang S M, Yuan B Y, Wu X Z, Qiu Z X, Xu Q Q, Huang W B, Huang W W, An Z S, Lu H Y. 2000. Table of Chinese Quaternary stratigraphic correlation remarked with climate change (in Chinese). Quat Sci, 20: 108–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu T S, Zhang Z H. 1962. Loess in China (in Chinese). Acta Geol Sin, 42: 1–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu X, Shen G, Tu H, Lu C, Granger D E. 2015. Initial 26Al/10Be burial dating of the hominin site Bailong Cave in Hubei Province, central China. Quat Int, 389: 235–240

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu H, Liu X, Zhang F, An Z, Dodson J. 1999. Astronomical calibration of loess-paleosol deposits at Luochuan, central Chinese Loess Plateau. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol, 154: 237–246

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu H, Zhang H, Wang S, Cosgrove R, Sun X, Zhao J, Sun D, Zhao C, Shen C, Wei M. 2011. Multiphase timing of hominin occupations and the paleoenvironment in Luonan Basin, Central China. Quat Res, 76: 142–147

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu H Y, Zhang H Y, Wang S J, Cosgrove R, Zhao C F, Stevens T, Zhao J. 2007. A preliminary survey on loess deposit in eastern Qinling Mountains (central China) and its implication for estimating age of the Pleistocene lithic artifacts (in Chinese). Quat Sci, 27: 559–567

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo X, Rehkämper M, Lee D C, Halliday A N. 1997. High precision 230Th/232Th and 234U/238U measurements using energy-filtered ICP magnetic sector multiple collector mass spectrometry. Int J Mass Spectrometry Ion Processes, 171: 105–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Mark D F, Renne P R, Dymock R C, Smith V C, Simon J I, Morgan L E, Staff R A, Ellis B S, Pearce N J G. 2017. High-precision 40Ar/39Ar dating of pleistocene tuffs and temporal anchoring of the Matuyama-Brunhes boundary. Quat Geochron, 39: 1–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Mei X, Li R, Zhang X, Liu Q, Liu J, Wang Z, Lan X, Liu J, Sun R. 2016. Evolution of the Yellow Sea warm current and the Yellow Sea cold water mass since the Middle Pleistocene. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol, 442: 48–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Min L R, Zhu G X, Guan Y Y. 2009. An analysis of the basic characteristics of the Upper Pleistocene Salawusuan Stage in the Salawusu River Valley, Inner Mongolia (in Chinese). Geol China, 36: 1208–1217

    Google Scholar 

  • National Commission on the Stratigraphy of China. 2017. Stratigraphical Guide of China and Its Explanation (in Chinese). Beijing: Geological Publishing House. 1–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Nian X M, Zhou L P, Yuan B Y. 2013. Optically stimulated luminescence dating of terrestrial sediments in the Nihewan Basin and its implication for the evolution of ancient Nihewan lake (in Chinese). Quat Sci, 33: 403–414

    Google Scholar 

  • Pan Y X, Zhu R X, Liu Q S, Guo B, Yue L P, Wu H N. 2002. Geomagnetic episodes of the last 1.2 Myr recorded in Chinese loess. Geophys Res Lett, 29: 123–1–123-4

    Google Scholar 

  • Pei W C. 1957. The zoogeographical divisions of Quaternary mammalian faunas of China. Verteb PalAsia, 1: 9–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Pei W C. 1961. Fossil mammals of early Pleistocene age from Yuanmo (Ma-kai) of Yunnan (in Chinese). Verteb PalAsia, 5: 16–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Pei W C, Chou M C, Zheng J J. 1963. Cenozoic Erathem of China (in Chinese). In: National Commission on Stratigraphy of China, ed. Selected Scientific Reports at All-China Stratigraphic Congress. Beijing: Science Press. 1–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Pei W C, Huang W B. 1959. Some perspectives on the Sanmen Group (in Chinese). In: Chinese Association for Quaternary Research, ed. Proceedings of the Conference on Quaternary Geology of the Sanmenxia Basin. Beijing: Scicence Press. 3–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Pillans B, Gibbard P. 2012. The Quaternary Period. In: Gradstein F M, Ogg J G, Schmitz M D, Ogg G M, eds. The Geologic Time Scale 2012. Vol. 2. Amsterdam: Elsevier. 979–1010

    Google Scholar 

  • Pu Q Y, Qian F. 1977. Study on the fossil human strata—the Yuanmo Formation (in Chinese). Acta Geol Sin, 51: 89–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Qian F. 1999. Study on magnetostratigraphy in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in late Cenozoic (in Chinese). J Geomech, 5: 22–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Qian F, Zhou G X. 1991. Quaternary Geology and Paleoanthropology of Yuanmou, Yunnan, China (in Chinese). Beijing: Science Press. 222

    Google Scholar 

  • Qian F, Zhang J X, Yin W D. 1985. Magnetic stratigraphy from the sediment of west wall and test pit of Locality 1 at Zhoukoudian (in Chinese). In: Wu R K, ed. Multi-disciplinary Study of the Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian. Beijing: Science Press. 251–255

    Google Scholar 

  • Qiang X K, Xu X W, Chen T, Zhao H, Zheng H T. 2016. Spatial characteristics and influence factors of Matuyama-Brunhes polarity reversal boundary (MBB) in eolian sequences from the Chinese Loess Plateau (in Chinese). Quat Sci, 36: 1125–1138

    Google Scholar 

  • Qiao Y. 2003. Loess-soil sequences in southern Anhui Province: Magnetostratigraphy and paleoclimatic significance. Chin Sci Bull, 48: 2088–2093

    Google Scholar 

  • Qiao Y S, Liu D Y, Li C Z, Li M Z, Wang Y, Zhao Z Z. 2007. Magnetostratigraphy of a loess-soil sequence in the Garze area, western Sichuan (in Chinese). J Geomech, 13: 289–296

    Google Scholar 

  • Qiao Y S, Wang Y, Yao H T, Qi L, He Z X, Cheng Y, Peng S S, Ge J Y. 2015. Magnetostratigraphy of a loess-paleosol sequence from higher terrace of the Daduhe River in the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau and its geological significance. Acta Geol Sin, 89: 316–317

    Google Scholar 

  • Qiu Z X. 2000. Nihewan fauna and Q/N boundary in China (in Chinese). Quat Sci, 20: 142–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Qiu Z X, Huang W L, Guo Z H. 1987. The Chinese hipparioniae fossils (in Chinese). Paleontol Sin New Ser C, 25: 1–250

    Google Scholar 

  • Qiu Z, Qiu Z. 1995. Chronological sequence and subdivision of Chinese Neogene mammalian faunas. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol, 116: 41–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Rink W J, Wei W, Bekken D, Jones H L. 2008. Geochronology of Ailuropoda-Stegodon fauna and Gigantopithecus in Guangxi Province, southern China. Quat Res, 69: 377–387

    Google Scholar 

  • Rio D, Sprovieri R, Castradori D, Di Stefano E. 1998. The Gelasian Stage (Upper Pliocene): A new unit of the global chronostratigraphic scale. Episodes, 21: 82–87

    Google Scholar 

  • Saylor J E, Quade J, Dettman D L, DeCelles P G, Kapp P A, Ding L. 2009. The late Miocene through present paleoelevation history of southwestern Tibet. Am J Sci, 309: 1–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Shao L, Zhu W L, Deng C L, Zhang Y C, Zhai S K. 2016. Reservoir Stratum Sedimentology of Carbonate Biogenic Reefs in Well Xike-1 From Xisha Islands, South China Sea: Chronostratigraphy and Paleoceanographic Environments (in Chinese). Wuhan: China University of Geosciences Press. 128

    Google Scholar 

  • Shao Q, Wang W, Deng C, Voinchet P, Lin M, Zazzo A, Douville E, Dolo J M, Falguères C, Bahain J J. 2014. ESR, U-series and paleomagnetic dating of Gigantopithecus fauna from Chuifeng Cave, Guangxi, southern China. Quat Res, 82: 270–280

    Google Scholar 

  • Shao Q, Wang Y, Voinchet P, Zhu M, Lin M, Rink W J, Jin C, Bahain J J. 2017. U-series and ESR/U-series dating of the Stegodon-Ailuropoda fauna at Black Cave, Guangxi, southern China with implications for the timing of the extinction of Gigantopithecus blacki. Quaternary Int, 434: 65–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Shen C C, Lawrence Edwards R, Cheng H, Dorale J A, Thomas R B, Bradley Moran S, Weinstein S E, Edmonds H N. 2002. Uranium and thorium isotopic and concentration measurements by magnetic sector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Chem Geol, 185: 165–178

    Google Scholar 

  • Shen G, Gao X, Gao B, Granger D E. 2009. Age of Zhoukoudian Homo erectus determined with 26Al/10Be burial dating. Nature, 458: 198–200

    Google Scholar 

  • Shi N, Cao J X, Konigsson L K. 1993. Late Cenozoic vegetational history and the Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary in the Yushe Basin, S.E. Shanxi, China. Grana, 32: 260–271

    Google Scholar 

  • Singer B S. 2014. A Quaternary geomagnetic instability time scale. Quat Geochron, 21: 29–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Singer B S, Guillou H, Jicha B R, Zanella E, Camps P. 2014. Refining the Quaternary Geomagnetic Instability Time Scale (GITS): Lava flow recordings of the Blake and Post-Blake excursions. Quat Geochron, 21: 16–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevens T, Armitage S J, Lu H, Thomas D S G. 2006. Sedimentation and diagenesis of Chinese loess: Implications for the preservation of continuous, high-resolution climate records. Geology, 34: 849–852

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun D, Liu D, Chen M, An Z, John S. 1997. Magnetostratigraphy and palaeoclimate of Red Clay sequences from Chinese Loess Plateau. Sci China Ser D-Earth Sci, 40: 337–343

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun L, Deng C, Wang W, Liu C, Kong Y, Wu B, Liu S, Ge J, Qin H, Zhu R. 2017a. Magnetostratigraphy of Plio–Pleistocene fossiliferous cave sediments in the Bubing Basin, southern China. Quat Geochronology, 37: 68–81

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun X, Lu H, Wang S, Yi L, Li Y, Bahain J J, Voinchet P, Hu X, Zeng L, Zhang W, Zhuo H. 2017b. Early human settlements in the southern Qinling Mountains, central China. Quat Sci Rev, 164: 168–186

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun L, Wang Y, Liu C, Zuo T, Ge J, Zhu M, Jin C, Deng C, Zhu R. 2014. Magnetochronological sequence of the Early Pleistocene Gigantopithecus faunas in Chongzuo, Guangxi, southern China. Quat Int, 354: 15–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun Y, Clemens S C, An Z, Yu Z. 2006. Astronomical timescale and palaeoclimatic implication of stacked 3.6-Myr monsoon records from the Chinese Loess Plateau. Quat Sci Rev, 25: 33–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Tedford R H, Flynn L J, Zhanxiang Q, Opdyke N D, Downs W R. 1991. Yushe Basin, China; Paleomagnetically calibrated mammalian biostratigraphic standard from the late Neogene of eastern Asia. J Vert Paleont, 11: 519–526

    Google Scholar 

  • Tedford R H, Qiu Z X, Flynn L J. 2013. Late Cenozoic Yushe Basin, Shanxi Province, China: Geology and Fossil Mammals. Vol. I: History, Geology and Magnetostratigraphy. Dordrecht: Springer. 109

    Google Scholar 

  • Teilhard de Chardin P, Licent E. 1924. On the Geology of the Northern, Western and Southern Borders of the Ordos, China. Bull Geol Soc China, 3: 37–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Teilhard de Chardin P, Piveteau J. 1930. Les mammifères fossiles de Nihowan (Chine). Annales de Paléontologie, 19: 1–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Tian J, Wang P, Cheng X, Li Q. 2002. Astronomically tuned Plio–Pleistocene benthic δ 18 O record from South China Sea and Atlantic–Pacific comparison. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 203: 1015–1029

    Google Scholar 

  • Tong G B, Shi Y, Zheng H R, Zhang J, Lin F, He Q L, Song X H, Liu Z X, Qiao G D, Zhang J X, Yang X D, Zhang W Q. 1998. Quaternary stratigraphy in Yinchuan Basin (in Chinese). J Stratigr, 22: 42–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Tong H W, Li H, Xie J Y. 2008. Revisions of some taxa of the Salawusu Fauna from Sjara-Osso-Gol area, Neimongol, China (in Chinese). Quat Sci, 28: 1106–1113

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker M, Johnsen S, Rasmussen S O, Steffensen J P, Popp T, Gibbard P, Hoek W, Lowe J, Andrews J, Bjorck S, Cwynar L, Hughen K, Kershaw P, Kromer B, Litt T, Lowe D J, Nakagawa T, Newnham R, Schwande J. 2008. The Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base of the Holocene Series/Epoch (Quaternary System/Period) in the NGRIP ice core. Episodes, 31: 264–267

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang H. 1988. An early Pleistocene mammalian fauna from Dali, Shaanxi (in Chinese). Verteb PalAsia, 26: 59–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang H, Deng C, Zhu R, Wei Q, Hou Y, Boëda E. 2005a. Magnetostratigraphic dating of the Donggutuo and Maliang Paleolithic sites in the Nihewan Basin, North China. Quat Res, 64: 1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Løvlie R, Yang Z, Pei J, Zhao Z, Sun Z. 2005b. Remagnetization of Quaternary eolian deposits: A case study from SE Chinese Loess Plateau. Geochem Geophys Geosyst, 6: Q06H18

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang P, Zhao Q, Jian Z, Cheng X, Huang W, Tian J, Wang J, Li Q, Li B, Su X. 2003. Thirty million year deep sea records in the South China Sea. Chin Sci Bull, 48: 2524–2535

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang S F, Zhang W L, Fang X M, Dai S, Kempf O. 2008. Magnetostratigraphy of the Zanda basin in southwest Tibet Plateau and its tectonic implications. Chin Sci Bull, 53: 1393–1400

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang S. 2002. Sedimentary records of environmental evolution in the Sanmen Lake Basin and the Yellow River running through the Sanmenxia Gorge eastward into the sea. Sci China Ser D: Earth Sci, 45: 595–608

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang W, Potts R, Baoyin Y, Huang W, Cheng H, Edwards R L, Ditchfield P. 2007a. Sequence of mammalian fossils, including hominoid teeth, from the Bubing Basin caves, South China. J Human Evol, 52: 370–379

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Qiu Z, Li Q, Wang B, Qiu Z, Downs W R, Xie G, Xie J, Deng T, Takeuchi G T, Tseng Z J, Chang M, Liu J, Wang Y, Biasatti D, Sun Z, Fang X, Meng Q. 2007b. Vertebrate paleontology, biostratigraphy, geochronology, and paleoenvironment of Qaidam Basin in northern Tibetan Plateau. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol, 254: 363–385

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang X M, Flynn L J, Fortelius M, eds. 2013a. Fossil Mammals of Asia: Neogene Biostratigraphy and Chronology. New York: Columbia University Press. 732

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Li Q, Xie G, Saylor J E, Tseng Z J, Takeuchi G T, Deng T, Wang Y, Hou S, Liu J, Zhang C, Wang N, Wu F. 2013b. Mio-Pleistocene Zanda Basin biostratigraphy and geochronology, pre-Ice Age fauna, and mammalian evolution in western Himalaya. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol, 374: 81–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Yang Z, Løvlie R, Min L. 2004. High-resolution magnetic stratigraphy of fluvio-lacustrine succession in the Nihewan Basin, China. Quat Sci Rev, 23: 1187–1198

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Yang Z, Løvlie R, Sun Z, Pei J. 2006. A magnetostratigraphic reassessment of correlation between Chinese loess and marine oxygen isotope records over the last 1.1Ma. Phys Earth Planet Inter, 159: 109–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Lu H, Zhang H, Wu J, Hou X, Fu Y, Geng J. 2018. Distribution, provenance, and onset of the Xiashu Loess in Southeast China with paleoclimatic implications. J Asian Earth Sci, 155: 180–187

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Jin C Z, Deng C L, Wei G B, Yan Y L. 2012. The first Sinomastodon (Gomphotheriidae, Proboscidea) skull from the Quaternary in China. Chin Sci Bull, 57: 4726–4734

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Jin C Z, Mead J I. 2014. New remains of Sinomastodon yangziensis (Proboscidea, Gomphotheriidae) from Sanhe karst Cave, with discussion on the evolution of Pleistocene Sinomastodon in South China. Quat Int, 339–340: 90–96

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Jin C, Pan W, Qin D, Yan Y, Zhang Y, Liu J, Dong W, Deng C. 2017. The Early Pleistocene Gigantopithecus-Sinomastodon fauna from Juyuan karst cave in Boyue Mountain, Guangxi, South China. Quat Int, 434: 4–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y J, Cheng H, Edwards R L, An Z S, Wu J Y, Shen C C, Dorale J A. 2001. A high-resolution absolute-dated Late Pleistocene monsoon record from Hulu Cave, China. Science, 294: 2345–2348

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Cheng H, Edwards R L, Kong X, Shao X, Chen S, Wu J, Jiang X, Wang X, An Z. 2008. Millennial- and orbital-scale changes in the East Asian monsoon over the past 224,000 years. Nature, 451: 1090–1093

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Z F, Zhang D J, Liu X Y, You L, Luo W, Yi L, Tan L C, Zhu Y H, Qin H F, Cheng H, Li Z Q, Xie Q, Che Z W, Deng C L, Zhu R X. 2017. Magnetostratigraphy and 230Th dating of Pleistocene biogenic reefs in XK-1 borehole from Xisha Islands, South China Sea (in Chinese). Chin J Geophys, 60: 1027–1038

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu C L, Zhu C, Lu H Y, Ma C M, Zhu G Y, Zheng C G, Xun X W. 2006. Magnetostratigraphical dating of the Xiashu Loess in Nanjing area and its paleoenvironmental interpretation (in Chinese). J Stratigr, 30: 116–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu R K, Ren M E, Zhu X M, Yang Z G, Hu C K, Kong Z C, Xie Y Y. 1985. Multi-disciplinary Study of the Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian (in Chinese). Beijing: Science Press. 267

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu Q M, Yang J L, Hu Y Z, Yuan G B, Deng C L. 2018. Magnetostratigraphy of two deep boreholes in southwestern Bohai Bay: Tectonic implications and constraints on the ages of volcanic layers. Quat Geochronol, 43: 1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu Q, Yuan G, Yang J, Xin H, Yi L, Deng C. 2017. Plio-Pleistocene magnetostratigraphy of northern Bohai Bay and its implications for tectonic events since ca. 2.0 Ma. J Geo Dyn, 111: 1–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Xue X X. 1981. An early Pleistocene mammalian fauna and its stratigraphy of the River You, Weinan, Shensi (in Chinese). Verteb PalAsia, 19: 35–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang S, Ding Z. 2010. Drastic climatic shift at ~2.8Ma as recorded in eolian deposits of China and its implications for redefining the Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary. Quat Int, 219: 37–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Yao Y P, Liu Y. 2010. An international debate on the status of the Quaternary as a formal chronostratigraphical unit and the final ratification of the Quaternary System/Period (in Chinese). Adv Earth Sci, 25: 775–781

    Google Scholar 

  • Yi L, Deng C, Tian L, Xu X, Jiang X, Qiang X, Qin H, Ge J, Chen G, Su Q, Chen Y, Shi X, Xie Q, Yu H, Zhu R. 2016. Plio-Pleistocene evolution of Bohai Basin (East Asia): demise of Bohai Paleolake and transition to marine environment. Sci Rep, 6: 29403

    Google Scholar 

  • Yi L, Jiang X Y, Tian L Z, Yu H J, Xu X Y, Shi X F, Qin H F, Deng C L. 2016b. Geochronological study on Plio-Pleistocene evolution of Bohai Basin (in Chinese). Quat Sci, 36: 1075–1087

    Google Scholar 

  • Yin Q, Guo Z. 2006. Mid-pleistocene vermiculated red soils in southern China as an indication of unusually strengthened East Asian monsoon. Chin Sci Bull, 51: 213–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Young C C. 1950. The Plio-Pleistocene boundary in China. Report on 18th International Geological Congress, London. 115–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Yuan B Y, Zhu R X, Tian W L, Cui J X, Li R Q, Wang Q, Yan F H. 1996. Magnetostratigraphic dating on the Nihewan Formation (in Chinese). Sci China Ser D: Earth Sci, 26: 67–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Yuan B Y, Xia Z K, Li B S, Qiao Y S, Gu Z Y, Zhang J F, Xu B, Huang W W, Zeng R S. 2008. Chronostratigraphy and stratigraphic divisions of red soil in southern China (in Chinese). Quat Sci, 28: 1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Yuan D, Cheng H, Edwards R L, Dykoski C A, Kelly M J, Zhang M, Qing J, Lin Y, Wang Y, Wu J, Dorale J A, An Z, Cai Y. 2004. Timing, duration, and transitions of the Last Interglacial Asian Monsoon. Science, 304: 575–578

    Google Scholar 

  • Yuan F L, Du H J. 1984. Cenozoic Stratigraphy in China (in Chinese). Beijing: Geological Publishing House. 233–249

    Google Scholar 

  • Yuan G B, Xu Q M, Wang Y, Yang J L, Qin Y F, Du D. 2014. Magnetostratigraphy and tectonics significance of BG10 borehole in northern coast of Bohai Bay (in Chinese). Acta Geol Sin, 88: 285–298

    Google Scholar 

  • Yue L P, Wang Y, Zheng H B. 1994. Magnetostratigraphic date on the “Yangguo Fauna” (in Chinese). J Stratigr, 18: 203–206

    Google Scholar 

  • Yue L P, Xue X X. 1996. The comparative study of magnetostratigraphy and biostratigraphy in Chinese loess area (in Chinese). Quat Sci, 16: 239–244

    Google Scholar 

  • Zan J, Fang X, Zhang W, Yan M, Zhang T. 2016. Palaeoenvironmental and chronological constraints on the Early Pleistocene mammal fauna from loess deposits in the Linxia Basin, NE Tibetan Plateau. Quat Sci Rev, 148: 234–242

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeng L, Lu H, Yi S, Li Y, Lv A, Zhang W, Xu Z, Wu H, Feng H, Cui M. 2016. New magnetostratigraphic and pedostratigraphic investigations of loess deposits in north-east China and their implications for regional environmental change during the Mid-Pleistocene climatic transition. J Quat Sci, 31: 20–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeng L, Lu H Y, Yi S W Xu Z W, Qiu Z M, Yang Z Y, Li Y X. 2011. Magnetostratigraphy of loess in northeastern China and paleoclimatic changes (in Chinese). Chin Sci Bull, 56: 2267–2275

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J F, Huang W W, Hu Y, Yang S X, Zhou L P. 2015. Optical dating of flowstone and silty carbonate-rich sediments from Panxian Dadong Cave, Guizhou, southwestern China. Quat Geochron, 30: 479–486

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Jin C, Cai Y, Kono R, Wang W, Wang Y, Zhu M, Yan Y. 2014. New 400–320 ka Gigantopithecus blacki remains from Hejiang Cave, Chongzuo City, Guangxi, South China. Quat Int, 354: 35–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Z H, Liu P G, Qian F, Min L R, Wang Q, Zong G F. 1994. New development in research of late Cenozoic stratigraphy in Yuanmou Basin (in Chinese). Mar Geol Quat Geol, 14: 1–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang W, Yu L, Lu M, Zheng X, Ji J, Zhou L, Wang X. 2009. East Asian summer monsoon intensity inferred from iron oxide mineralogy in the Xiashu Loess in southern China. Quat Sci Rev, 28: 345–353

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao H, Lu Y, Wang C, Chen J, Liu J, Mao H. 2010. ReOSL dating of aeolian and fluvial sediments from Nihewan Basin, northern China and its environmental application. Quat Geochron, 5: 159–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Q, Jian Z, Li B, Cheng X, Wang P. 1999. Microtektites in the Middle Pleistocene deep-sea sediments of the South China Sea. Sci China Ser D-Earth Sci, 42: 531–535

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao S L, Yang G F, Cang S X, Zhang H C, Huang Q F, Xia D X, Wang Y J, Liu F S, Liu C F. 1978. On the marine stratigraphy and coastlines of the western coast of the gulf of Bohai (in Chinese). Oceanol Limn Sin, 9: 15–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Z Z, Qiao Y S, Wang Y, Fu J L, Wang S B, Li C Z, Yao H T, Jiang F C. 2007. Magnetostratigraphic and paleoclimatic studies on the Red Earth Formation from the Chengdu Plain in Sichuan Province, China. Sci China Ser D-Earth Sci, 50: 927–935

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng H B, Rolph T, Shaw J, An Z S. 1995. A detailed palaeomagnetic record for the last interglacial period. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 133: 339–351

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou L P, Shackleton N J. 1999. Misleading positions of geomagnetic reversal boundaries in Eurasian loess and implications for correlation between continental and marine sedimentary sequences. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 168: 117–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou M L, Min L R, Wang S F. 2000. China’s Quaternary Stratigraphy (in Chinese). Beijing: Geological Publishing House. 1–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou M Q, Ge Z S. 1990. Magnetostratigraphic study of loose sediments in southern Yellow Sea and its adjacent land area (in Chinese). Mar Geol Quat Geol, 10: 21–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou T R, Li H Z, Liu Q S, Li R Q, Sun X P. 1991. Cenozoic Paleogeography of the Nihewan Basin (in Chinese). Beijing: Science Press. 162

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu R, An Z, Potts R, Hoffman K A. 2003. Magnetostratigraphic dating of early humans in China. Earth-Sci Rev, 61: 341–359

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu R X, Deng C L, Pan Y X. 2007. Magnetochronology of the fluviolacustrine sequences in the Nihewan basin and its implications for early human colonization of northeast Asia (in Chinese). Quat Sci, 27: 922–944

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu R X, Hoffman K A, Potts R, Deng C L, Pan Y X, Guo B, Shi C D, Guo Z T, Yuan B Y, Hou Y M, Huang W W. 2001. Earliest presence of humans in northeast Asia. Nature, 413: 413–417

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu R, Liu Q, Pan Y, Deng C, Zhang R, Wang X. 2006. No apparent lockin depth of the Laschamp geomagnetic excursion: Evidence from the Malan loess. Sci China Ser D-Earth Sci, 49: 960–967

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu R, Pan Y, Liu Q. 1999. Geomagnetic excursions recorded in Chinese Loess in the last 70,000 years. Geophys Res Lett, 26: 505–508

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu R X, Potts R, Pan Y X, Lü L Q, Yao H T, Deng C L, Qin H F. 2008a. Paleomagnetism of the Yuanmou Basin near the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau and its constraints on late Neogene sedimentation and tectonic rotation. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 272: 97–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu R X, Potts R, Pan Y X, Yao H T, Lü L Q, Zhao X, Gao X, Chen L W, Gao F, Deng C L. 2008b. Early evidence of the genus Homo in East Asia. J Human Evol, 55: 1075–1085

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu R X, Potts R, Xie F, Hoffman K A, Deng C L, Shi C D, Pan Y X, Wang H Q, Shi R P, Wang Y C, Shi G H, Wu N Q. 2004. New evidence on the earliest human presence at high northern latitudes in northeast Asia. Nature, 431: 559–562

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu R, Zhang R, Deng C, Pan Y, Liu Q, Sun Y. 2007. Are Chinese loess deposits essentially continuous? Geophys Res Lett, 34: L17306

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu R X, Zhou L P, Laj C, Mazaud A, Ding Z L. 1994. The Blake geomagnetic polarity episode recorded in Chinese loess. Geophys Res Lett, 21: 697–700

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu W L, Wang Z F, Mi L J, Du X B, Xie X N, Lu Y C, Zhang D J, Sun Z P, Liu X Y, You L. 2015a. Sequence stratigraphic framework and reef growth unit of Well Xike-1 from Xisha Islands, South China Sea (in Chinese). Earth Sci—J China Univ Geosci, 40: 677–687

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu Z Y, Dennell R, Huang W W, Wu Y, Rao Z G, Qiu S F, Xie J B, Liu W, Fu S Q, Han J W, Zhou H Y, Ou Yang T P, Li H M. 2015b. New dating of the Homo erectus cranium from Lantian (Gongwangling), China. J Human Evol, 78: 144–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuo T W, Cheng H J, Liu P, Xie F, Deng C L. 2012. Magnetostratigraphic dating of the Hougou Paleolithic site in the Nihewan Basin, North China. Sci China Earth Sci, 54: 1643–1650

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Profs. Jiayu Rong and Shuzhong Shen for their suggestion to write this review; to Prof. Shuzhong Shen, Dr. Junyi Ge, and the two anonymous reviewers for helpful comments and suggestions for improving the manuscript; to Dr. Lu Sun for help with drafting figures; and to Dr. Jan Bloemendal for improving the English. Chenglong Deng thanks Lu Sun, Liang Yi, Caicai Liu, Shihu Li, Shuhui Cai, Jianxing Liu, Qinmian Xu, Shixia Yang, Ping Liu, Yan Zhang and Suzhen Liu for useful discussion. This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41690110, 41621004 and L152401).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Lithospheric Evolution, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Chenglong Deng & Rixiang Zhu

  2. Institutions of Earth Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Chenglong Deng, Qingzhen Hao, Zhengtang Guo & Rixiang Zhu

  3. College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Chenglong Deng, Qingzhen Hao, Zhengtang Guo & Rixiang Zhu

  4. Key Laboratory of Cenozoic Geology and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Qingzhen Hao & Zhengtang Guo

  5. CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China

    Zhengtang Guo

Authors
  1. Chenglong Deng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Qingzhen Hao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zhengtang Guo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rixiang Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chenglong Deng.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Deng, C., Hao, Q., Guo, Z. et al. Quaternary integrative stratigraphy and timescale of China. Sci. China Earth Sci. 62, 324–348 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-017-9195-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-017-9195-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation