Abstract Four incised-valley systems including the Luanhe fan-delta，the Changjiang delta，the Qiantangjiang estuary，and the Zhujiang delta in China， are discussed based on over 800 drilling-holes. These incised vallies are elongated or fan-shaped and with tens to hundreds of kilometers in length，tens of kilometers in width and 40～90m in depth. Four facies assemblages(FS-Ⅰ， FS-Ⅱ，FS-Ⅲ and FS-Ⅵ)are distinguished in the incised-valley sequences. An ideal incised-valley sequence may include all four types，with FS-Ⅰ near the coastline region and FS-Ⅵ at the top of the deltas，which indicates a decreasing marine influence and an increasing terrestrial effect. The Late Quaternary incised-valley sequence in these deltas and the estuary areas may be distinguished into transgressive and regressive succesions. The thickness of the transgressive succession make up more than 50％ of the total thickness of the entire sequence and the transgressive sediment volume constitutes approximately 60％～70％ of the total. The transgressive succession of the incised-valley sequences was formed by retrogressive aggradation during sea level rising. The fluvial-channel facies in the transgressive succession，was formed in the river reach where the retrogressive aggradation extended but the flood tidal currents did not arrive. It usually contains no marine microfossils and tidal sedimentary structures. A regionally comparable erosional surface is not found in the transgressive succession of the incised-valley sequence，which means there is no erosional record resulting from the fluctuations of the postglacial sea level rising rate or even minor sea level fall. The regressive succession in the incised-valley sequences was developed as the estuary was filled and delta prograded. The Changjiang paleo-estuary was filled by strong tidal facies and then by deltaic facies，and the tidal regime in it was changed from macro-tidal to meso-tidal process. In the Luanhe fan-delta and the Zhujiang delta areas，the paleo-estuaries were filled by fluvial facies and then by deltaic deposits. The Qiantangjiang estuary is being filled by the strong tidal facies.
About author: Li Congxian，born in 1937，a professor，is mainly engaged in researches on coastal sedimentation.
Cite this article:
. Characteristics and formation of the Late Quaternary incised-valley sequences in estuary and delta areas in China[J]. JOURNAL OF PALAEOGEOGRAPHY, 2008, 10(1): 87-97.
. Characteristics and formation of the Late Quaternary incised-valley sequences in estuary and delta areas in China[J]. JOPC, 2008, 10(1): 87-97.
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