Contemporary crustal deformation of the Chinese continent and tectonic block model

We obtain the preliminary result of crustal deformation velocity field for the Chinese continent by analyzing GPS data from the Crustal Motion Observation Network of China (CMONOC), particularly the data from the regional networks of CMONOC observed in 1999 and 2001. We delineate 9 technically active blocks and 2 broadly distributed deformation zones out of a dense GPS velocity field, and derive block motion Euler poles for the blocks and their relative motion rates. Our result reveals that there are 3 categories of deformation patterns in the Chinese continent. The first category, associated with the interior of the Tibetan Plateau and the Tianshan orogenic belt, shows broadly distributed deformation within the regions. The third category, associated with the Tarim Basin and the region east of the north-south seismic belt of China, shows block-like motion, with deformation accommodated along the block boundaries only. The second category, mainly associated with the borderland of the Tibetan Plateau, such as the Qaidam, Qilian, Xining (in eastern Qinghai), and the Diamond-shaped (in western Sichuan and Yunnan) blocks, has the deformation pattern between the first and the third, i.e. these regions appear to deform block-like, but with smaller sizes and less strength for the blocks. Based on the analysis of the lithospheric structures and the deformation patterns of the regions above, we come to the inference that the deformation modes of the Chinese continental crust are mainly controlled by the crustal structure. The crust of the eastern China and the Tarim Basin is mechanically strong, and its deformation takes the form of relative motion between rigid blocks. On the other hand, the northward indentation of the Indian plate into the Asia continent has created the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau and the Tianshan Mountains, thickened their crust, and raised the temperature in the crust. The lower crust thus has become ductile, evidenced in low seismic velocity and high electric conductivity observed. The brittle part of the crust, driven by the visco-plastic flow of the lower crust, deforms extensively at all scales. The regions of the second category located at the borderland of the Tibetan Plateau are at the transition zone between the regions of the first and the third categories in terms of the crustal structure. Driven by the lateral boundary forces, their deformation style is also between the two, in the form of block motion and deformation with smaller blocks and less internal strength.     

帕米尔东北侧地壳结构研究

1998年在帕米尔东北侧伽师及其周边地区完成了两条深地震宽角反射/折射剖面. 结果表明,西昆仑、塔里木和天山在地壳速度结构、构造特征上显示出较大差异. 塔里木块体具有稳定地块的地壳结构特征,地壳平均速度较高(6.5km/s). 向南进入西昆仑,地壳明显增厚,厚度可达0km左右,且地壳平均速度偏低(6.0-6.2km/s),偏低的地壳平均速度主要来源于相对低速度的下地壳结构,反映了西昆仑褶皱系下地壳介质的特征. 向北进入天山后,地壳同样明显增厚,但增厚的程度低于西昆仑下,约为50-55km. 天山地壳同样具有明显低的平均速度(6.2km/s),显示了天山地壳相对"软"的特征,但天山地壳偏低的平均速度来源于广泛分布于中地壳的低速度层和速度偏低的下地壳. 在印度块体向北强烈推挤的作用下,该区地壳遭受强烈的不均匀变形,塔里木块体向南插入西昆仑下,向北插入天山下,形成了该区强烈地震频繁发生的深部构造环境.     

中国境内天山地壳上地幔结构的地震层析成像

根据横跨中国境内天山的库车—奎屯宽频带流动地震台阵和区域地震台网记录的近震和远震P波走时数据,利用地震层析成像方法重建了沿该地震台阵剖面下方400 km深度范围内地壳上地幔的P波速度结构.结果表明：沿新疆库车—奎屯剖面,天山地壳具有明显的横向分块结构,且南、北天山地壳显示了较为强烈的横向变形特征,表明塔里木地块对天山地壳具有强烈的侧向挤压作用;在塔里木和准噶尔地块上地幔顶部有厚度约60～90 km的高速异常体,塔里木—南天山下方的高速异常体产生了较为明显的弯曲变形,而准噶尔—北天山下方的高速异常体向南一直俯冲到中天山南侧边界下方300 km的深度,两者形成了不对称对冲构造;在塔里木和准噶尔地块下方150～400 km深度存在上地幔低速体,其中塔里木地块一侧的上地幔低速物质上涌到南天山地块的下方;在塔里木—南天山200～300 km深度范围的上地幔存在高速异常体,它可能是地幔热物质向上迁移过程融断的塔里木岩石圈的拆离体. 上述结果表明,塔里木地块的俯冲可能涉及整个岩石圈深度,但其前缘仅限于南天山的北缘;青藏高原隆升的远程效应可能不但驱动塔里木岩石圈向北俯冲,同时还造成天山造山带南侧上地幔物质的涌入;天山造山带上地幔广泛存在的低速异常有助于其上地幔的变形,而上地幔物质的强烈非均匀性应有助于推动天山造山带上地幔小尺度地幔对流的形成;根据研究区地壳上地幔速度结构特征推断,新近纪以来天山快速隆升的主要力源来自青藏高原快速隆升的远程效应,相对软弱的上地幔为加速天山造山带的变形和隆升创造了必要条件.     

Present-day horizontal deformation status of continental China and its driving mechanism

Based on velocity data of 933 GPS sites and using the methods of Ordinary Kriging interpolation and shape function derivation, this study has obtained the strain rate field of continental China in the spherical coordinates. In comparison with previous research results, it is found that such a strain rate field can be described by both the continuous deformation and block motions in the continent. The Tibetan Plateau and Tianshan region are characterized by continuous deformation which is distributed across the whole area. Within the blocks of South China, Tarim, Ordos, and Northeast China, little crustal deformation and deformation occurs primarily on the faults along their boundaries, which can be explained by the model of block motion. In other regions, such as the Yinshan-Yanshan block, North China block, and East Shandong-Yellow Sea, deformation patterns can be explained by both models. Besides, from southwest to northeast of continental China, there are three remarkable extensional zones of NW trending. These results imply that the NNE directed push of the India plate is the primary driving force accounting for the internal deformation of continental China. It produces the uplift, hori-zontal shortening and vertical thickening of the Tibetan Plateau as well as radiation-like material extru-sion. Of these extruded materials, one part accommodates the eastward "escape" of other blocks, generating convergence and compression of western China and widespread extension and local com-plicated deformation in eastern China under the joint action of the surrounding settings. The other part opens a corridor between the South China block and Tibetan Plateau, flowing toward southeast to the Myanmar range arc and filling the gap there which is produced by back-arc extension due to plate subduction.     

天山-帕米尔结合带的地壳速度结构及地震活动研究

利用流动地震台阵记录的地震数据,通过地震层析技术反演了天山—帕米尔结合带的P波速度结构,揭示出地壳结构的非均匀特征及其与地震活动的对应关系. 分析结果表明,天山和西昆仑的双向挤压导致塔里木西部边缘地壳严重变形,在山前地区形成基底隆起带,地壳深部则被断裂分割成为若干块体,有的块体可能卷入造山带内部;喀什坳陷地壳深部结构相对完整,变形程度较弱;天山和西昆仑的地壳结构显示出缩短增厚的波速特性,在与塔里木接壤的局部地区,壳幔边界附近存在热物质的侵入迹象. 大部分地震都发生在塔里木西部边缘的壳内高速块体周围,推测块体之间的相互作用和应力调整是导致天山—帕米尔结合带频繁发生地震的主要原因,伽师地震则与构造变形由天山向塔里木内部扩展以及该地区的地壳非均匀结构有关.     

PROGRESS IN APPLICATION OF GNSS TO DIVISION OF ACTIVE TECTONIC BLOCKS IN CONTINENTAL CHINA

Chinese scientists proposed that large earthquakes that occurred in mainland China are controlled by the movement and deformation of active tectonic blocks. This scientific hypothesis explains zoned phenomenon of seismicity in space. The active tectonic blocks are intense active terranes formed in late Cenozoic and late Quaternary, and the tectonic activity of block boundaries is the intensest. Global Navigation Satellite System(GNSS)has advantages of high spatio-temporal resolution, broad coverage, and high accuracy, and is utilized to monitor contemporary crustal deformation. High accuracy and resolution of GNSS velocity field within mainland China and vicinities provided by previous studies clearly demonstrate that different active tectonic blocks behave as different patterns of movement and deformation, and block interaction boundaries have intense tectonic deformation. The paper firstly introduces the GPS networks operated by the Crustal Movement Observation Network of China(CMONOC)since 1999, and GNSS data processing methods, including GAMIT, BERNESE and GIPSY/OASIS, and discusses the advantages of using South China block as a regional reference frame for GNSS velocity field, then proposes three strategies of block division, F-test, quasi-accurate detection(QUAD), and clustering analysis. Furthermore, we introduce rigid and non-rigid block motions. Rigid block motion can be denoted by translation and rotation, while non-rigid block motion can be described by rigid motion and internal strain deformation. Internal strain deformation can be divided into uniform and linear strains. We also review the usage of F-test to distinguish whether the block acts as rigid deformation or not. In addition, combining with recent GNSS velocity results, we elaborate the characteristics of present movement of rigid block, such as the South China, Tarim, Ordos, Alashan, and Northeast China, and that of non-rigid block, such as the Tibetan plateau, Tian Shan, and North China plain. Especially, the Tibetan plateau and Tian Shan seem to deform continuously with significant internal deformation. In order to enrich and perfect the active tectonic block hypothesis, we should carefully design dense GNSS networks in inner blocks and block boundaries, optimize utilizing other space geodesy technologies such as InSAR, and strengthen combining study of geodesy, seismogeology and geophysics. Through systematic summary, this paper is very useful to employing GNSS to investigate characteristics of block movement and dynamics of large earthquakes happening in block interaction boundaries.     

青藏高原东北缘地壳地震各向异性研究进展

青藏高原东北缘是青藏块体与华北块体的接触前缘部位,是研究青藏高原隆升扩张和深部动力学问题的重要区域。本文收集了青藏高原东北缘及其邻区由不同方法和不同资料获得的地壳地震各向异性结果,介绍了中上地壳和全地壳各向异性特征;结合区域地质构造、地表运动、构造应力和深部结构,分析了研究区域地壳各向异性的区域分布特征及其与地质构造的关系。结果表明,青藏高原东北缘地震各向异性存在明显的横向区域差异性,体现区域深部构造和地壳介质变形的复杂性;上地壳与全地壳的垂向差异性,反映出该区域可能存在各向异性分层现象。由于青藏高原隆升在其东北缘的伸展边界、物质运移及深部动力模式等尚处在探讨之中,结合多种数据并综合多种方法分析,有助于获得精细、准确的地震各向异性信息,为研究青藏高原隆升演化机制和深部动力模式提供有效的约束。     

The phase velocities of Rayleigh waves and the lateral variation of lithospheric structure in Tibetan Plateau

According to a Sino-U. S. joint project, eleven broadband digital PASSCAL seismometers had been deployed inside the Tibetan Plateau, of which 7 stations were on the profile from Lhasa to Golmud and other 4 stations situated at Maxin, Yushu, Xigatze and Linzhi. Dispersions and phase velocities of the Rayleigh surface waves (10s–120s) were obtained on five paths distributed in the different blocks of Tibetan Plateau. Inversions of the S-wave velocity structures in Songpan-Ganzi block, Qiang-Tang block, Lhasa block and the faulted rift zone were obtained from the dispersion data. The results show that significant lateral variation of the S-wave velocity structures among the different blocks exists. The path from Wenquan to Xigatze (abbreviated as Wndo-Xiga) passes through the rift-zone of Yadong-Anduo. The phase velocities of Rayleigh waves from 10s to 100s on this path are significantly higher than that on other paths. The calculated mean crustal velocity on this path is 3.8 km/s, much greater than that on other paths, where mean crustal velocities of 3.4–3.5 km/s are usually observed. Low velocity zones with different thicknesses and velocities are observed in the middle-lower crust for different paths. Songpan-Ganzi block, located in the northern part of Tibetan Plateau is characterized by a thinner crust of 65 km thick and a prominent low velocity zone in the upper mantle. The low velocity zone with a velocity of 4.2 km/s is located at a depth form 115 km to 175 km. While in other blocks, no low velocity zone in the upper mantle is observed. The value of Sn in Songpan-Ganzi is calculated to be 4.5 km/s, while those in Qiang-Tang and Lhasa blocks are about 4.6 km/s. The Chinese version of this paper appeared in the Chinese edition ofActa Seismologica Sinica,14, Supp., 566–573, 1992.     

天山地区的深部速度结构

利用区域地震资料的反演结果，分别研究了中国新疆、哈萨克斯坦和吉尔吉斯斯坦境内天山的地壳速度结构。结果表明，沿天山一带地壳结构极不均匀，根据不同的性质可分为５个较大的块体；山体两侧的壳内低速带是天山与相邻地块碰撞的深部标志，塔里木、准噶尔和伊犁等地块都有向天山俯冲的痕迹     

青藏高原东缘的地壳流及动力过程

黏滞性地壳流对地壳及上地幔变形作用及动力机制,是大陆新生代造山带的一个重要研究内容.青藏高原中下地壳存在部分熔融或含水物质的黏滞性流体,已为一系列地球物理及岩石学研究所证实.为研究青藏高原东缘地壳流的动力作用,本文用密集的被动源宽频带地震台的观测数据,反演了地壳上地幔精细速度结构和泊松比.研究表明,川西及滇西北高原的中地壳内普遍存在低速层,而高泊松比的地壳只分布在川西北地区.位于中地壳的黏滞性地壳流从青藏高原腹地羌塘高原流出,自北西向南东流入青藏高原东缘.这些黏滞性地壳流带动了上地壳块体水平移动,当它们受到刚强的四川盆地及华南地块阻挡时将发生分层作用,地壳流将分为二或更多分支不同方向的分流,向上的一支地壳流将对上地壳产生挤压,引起地面隆升,向下的一支地壳流将使莫霍面下沉加厚下地壳·黏滞性地壳流的运动在地壳中产生应变破裂发生强烈地震活动,地震的空间分布与震源机制也受到地壳流动力作用控制.     

青藏高原东南缘南段现今变形特征研究

本文以青藏高原东南缘南段1999—2017年的GPS速度场为主,结合小震分布、历史地震和活断层探测等资料,首先,基于Okada断层位错模型反演了研究区域主要活断层的滑动速率;其次,以断层滑动速率和GPS速度场观测资料作为约束,利用DEFNODE负位错方法反演了研究区域的块体内部变形及主要活断层的闭锁程度和滑动亏损;最后,计算研究区域现今应变率场,并结合Pms和XKS剪切波分裂结果,探讨分析了青藏高原东南缘的动力学特征.研究结果表明:(1)红河断裂带现今滑动速率明显低于南华—楚雄—建水断裂和无量山断裂;(2)红河断裂带的元江—元阳段、鹤庆—洱源段和小江断裂带北段处于强闭锁状态,南华—楚雄—建水断裂带和无量山断裂带中—北段的闭锁程度强于南段;(3)青藏高原东南缘南段现今地壳变形表现为近E-W向的拉张和近N-S向的挤压,最大剪切方向与Pms和XKS剪切波分裂的快波方向呈一定角度,表明地壳与地幔处于完全解耦状态,而中-下地壳低速层可能是壳幔解耦的主要原因之一;(4)青藏高原东南缘的整体变形受控于印度板块的推挤、印缅俯冲带的深源俯冲以及缅甸微板块与巽他板块的后撤/回退的共同作用.     

利用地震面波研究中国地壳结构

本文利用地震面波频散资料进行反演, 得到了中国各地区地壳结构的层状模型。中国地壳可以划分为青藏、蒙古、华北、华南和塔里木等五个大陆块体, 其频散曲线和地壳层状结构是彼此不同的.一般可以用沉积层、花岗岩层和玄武岩层来代表, 后四个区在上地幔和玄武岩层中的波速值比较接近.青藏和华北地区在地壳中的平均波速值较低, 地壳结构的纵横向变化显著, 康腊面不是稳定而明显的速度间断面, 某些部位上存在着低速层, 这两个地区的地震活动之所以十分强烈, 与上述地壳深部构造有直接关系.其余三个地区的地壳显示了类似稳定地台的某些特征.中国沿海地区的地壳可以大致以长江口为界分成南北两部分, 分属于华北和华南地壳.中国地壳厚度在东部为32——40公里, 青藏高原60——70公里.沉积层在塔里木盆地最厚, 达11公里, 其他地区一般为3——8公里.      

青藏高原中东部地壳和上地幔顶部P波层析成像

为获取青藏高原中东部地壳和上地幔顶部的精细结构,本文基于1万4 484条天然地震的P波（Pg和Pn）到时数据,对青藏高原中东部地壳和上地幔顶部进行P波三维速度结构层析成像,获取了该区域内地壳P波、上地幔顶部Pn波的速度结构和地壳厚度信息。层析成像结果显示,青藏高原中东部地壳P波速度范围为5.2—7.2 km/s,上地幔顶部Pn波速度范围为7.7—8.4 km/s,地壳厚度范围为48.0—68.6 km,地壳和上地幔顶部存在强烈的横向不均匀性,与地质块体分布有较好的对应关系。地壳P波速度结构显示,研究区中、下地壳分布有较大范围的低速区,上地壳与中下地壳P波分布存在明显的差异:羌塘地块和巴颜喀拉地块在上地壳主要表现为高速异常,随着深度增加逐渐表现为低速异常;而柴达木地块在上地壳主要表现为低速异常,下地壳则表现为高速异常;柴达木地块和拉萨地块在上地幔顶部表现为较高的Pn波速度,最高约为8.4 km/s,而在巴颜喀拉地块和羌塘地块东部,Pn波总体上表现为低速,最低约为7.7 km/s。研究区内地壳厚度的总体特征表现为南厚北薄,其中羌塘地块东部和拉萨地块的地壳较厚,而柴达木地块和巴颜喀拉地块东部的地壳相对较薄,羌塘地块西部存在局部的地壳变薄现象,反映了印度板块对欧亚板块北向俯冲作用下的岩石圈变形特征。      

南北地震带岩石圈S波速度结构面波层析成像

本文利用天然地震面波记录和层析成像方法,研究了南北地震带及邻近区域的岩石圈S波速度结构和各向异性特征.结果表明南北地震带的东边界不但是地壳厚度剧变带,也是地壳速度的显著分界.其西侧中下地壳的S波速度显著低于东侧,强震大多发生在低速区内部和边界.青藏高原东缘中下地壳速度显著低于正常大陆地壳,在松潘甘孜地块和川滇地块西部大约25～45 km深度存在壳内低速层;这些低速特征与高原主体的低速区相连,有利于下地壳物质的侧向流动.地壳的各向异性图像与下地壳流动模式相符,即下地壳物质绕喜马拉雅东构造结运动,东向的运动遇到扬子坚硬地壳阻挡而变为向南和向北东的运动.面波层析成像结果支持青藏高原地壳运动的下地壳流动模型.南北地震带的岩石圈厚度与其东侧的扬子和鄂尔多斯地块相似但速度较低.川滇西部地块上地幔顶部(莫霍面至88 km左右)异常低速;松潘甘孜地块上地幔盖层中有低速夹层(约90～130 km深度).岩石圈上地幔的速度分布图像与地壳显著不同,在高原主体与川滇之间存在北北东向高速带,可能会阻挡地幔物质的东向运动.上地幔各向异性较弱且与地壳的分布图像显然不同.因此青藏高原岩石圈地幔的构造运动具有与地壳不同的模式,软弱的下地壳提供了壳幔运动解耦的条件.     

新疆帕米尔东北侧地区现今地壳运动的GPS监测研究

通过加密帕米尔东北侧地区的GPS监测网并进行复测,结合周边地区的IGS站数据,计算得到了该地区40多个GPS点位运动速率,由此得到了该地区的现今地壳形变速率图及GPS基准站的时间序列。结果表明：各GPS站主要运动方向为北北西,基本上与天山褶皱带走向正交,即形成对天山的正向挤压。伽师附近及其西南区的运动形态与周邻测站有所不同,表明伽师地区的构造变形与近几年地震活动有某种关联。环塔里木盆地周边点在各区内的速率变化较小,方向也基本一致,说明塔里木盆地内部变形较小或基本不变形。     

青藏高原东北缘地壳S波速度结构及其动力学含义——远震接收函数提供的证据

利用青海和甘肃地震台网2007—2009年记录的远震波形资料,提取多频段P波接收函数,反演得到了青藏高原东北缘及相邻地块下方0~100km深度的地壳和上地幔S波速度结构.结果表明:(1)青藏高原东北缘的上、下地壳之间普遍存在一个S波速度低速层,其深度由南端的约35km向北变浅约为20km,推测该低速层为一壳内滑脱层,表明东北缘地区的上地壳变形与下地壳解耦,从滑脱层的深度分布可以认为青藏高原东北缘的地壳缩短自南向北进行,现阶段以上地壳增厚为主;(2)昆仑—西秦岭造山带的下地壳厚度较北侧的祁连地块薄,一种推测是西秦岭造山带的下地壳抗变形能力更强,也可能这种差异在块体拼合前已经存在;(3)青藏高原东北缘及鄂尔多斯和阿拉善地块的下地壳S波速度随深度的增加而增加,这种正梯度增加的S波速度结构反映较高黏滞性的下地壳,推测青藏高原东北缘的地壳结构不利于下地壳流的发育.     

Fine structure of Pn velocity beneath Sichuan-Yunnan region

We use 23298 Pn arrival-time data from Chinese national and provincial earthquake bulletins to invert fine structure of Pn velocity and anisotropy at the top of the mantle beneath the Sichuan-Yunnan and its adjacent region. The results suggest that the Pn velocity in this region shows significant lateral variation; the Pn velocity varies from 7.7 to 8.3 km/s. The Pn-velocity variation correlates well with the tectonic activity and heat flow of the region. Low Pn velocity is observed in southwest Yunnan , Tengchong volcano area, and the Panxi tectonic area. These areas have very active seismicity and tectonic activity with high surface heat flow. On the other hand, high Pn velocity is observed in some stable regions, such as the central region of the Yangtze Platform; the most pronounced high velocity area is located in the Sichuan Basin, south of Chengdu. Pn anisotropy shows a complex pattern of regional deformation. The Pn fast direction shows a prominent clockwise rotation pattern from east of the Tibetan block to the Sichuan-Yunnan diamond block to southwest Yunnan, which may be related to southeastward escape of the Tibetan Plateau material due to the collision of the Indian Plate to the Eurasia Plate. Thus there appears to be strong correlation between the crustal deformation and the upper mantle structure in the region. The delay times of events and stations show that the crust thickness decreases from the Tibetan Plateau to eastern China, which is consistent with the results from deep seismic sounding.     

青藏高原东北缘祁连山与酒西盆地结合部深部地壳结构及其构造意义

青藏高原地壳变形加厚机制一直是地学界研究争论的热点问题.青藏高原目前仍然处在持续向外扩张之中,因此青藏高原的边界地带作为高原向外扩张的最前缘地区代表了高原最新的变形状态,是研究青藏高原地壳变形加厚的关键地区.本文以一条穿过青藏高原东北缘祁连山与酒西盆地结合部的深地震反射剖面为基础,结合前人地质、地球物理资料,通过细致的地质构造解译,获得青藏高原东北缘祁连山与酒西盆地结合部位地壳变形以壳内滑脱带为界上、下解耦.滑脱带位于壳内低速层的顶部,深度14~24 km.滑脱带之上的地壳部分以一系列南倾、北冲,并向下终止于滑脱带的逆冲断裂变形为主,指示了青藏高原向北的扩张方式;滑脱带之下的地壳以Moho面作为变形标志,指示了复杂的挤压缩短变形.据此我们推测上、下地壳的解耦缩短变形对青藏高原东北缘地壳的变形加厚起到了决定性的作用,甚至在整个青藏高原地壳的变形加厚过程中都起到了重要作用.     

青藏高原东北缘、鄂尔多斯和华北唐山震区的地壳结构差异——深地震测深的结果

划分大陆活动地块的重要标志之一是它们在地壳结构间的差异。大陆不同地块具有不同的地壳结构特征。这些结构和构造上的不同反映了它们在地壳内部的变形特征和动力过程的差异。文中利用深地震宽角反射 /折射剖面的结果 ,讨论了青藏高原东北缘东昆仑巴颜喀拉地块、鄂尔多斯地块和华北地块唐山震区地壳结构的差异。它们分别是变形强烈的活动地块、内部变形小相对稳定的地块和现代发生过强震的活动地块。在地壳结构上它们之间的差别是明显的。这些差异表现在地壳的分层性质、上地壳和下地壳的结构、地壳结构的不均匀尺度、壳 /幔分界的性质、壳内低速层的分布、地壳界面、特别是莫霍面的构造形态等方面     

Fine structure of Pn velocity beneath Sichuan-Yunnan region

We use 23298 Pn arrival-time data from Chinese national and provincial earthquake bulletins to invert fine structure of Pn velocity and anisotropy at the top of the mantle beneath the Sichuan-Yunnan and its adjacent region. The results suggest that the Pn velocity in this region shows significant lateral variation; the Pn velocity varies from 7.7 to 8.3 km/s. The Pn-velocity variation correlates well with the tectonic activity and heat flow of the region. Low Pn velocity is observed in southwest Yunnan, Tengchong volcano area, and the Panxi tectonic area. These areas have very active seismicity and tectonic activity with high surface heat flow. On the other hand, high Pn velocity is observed in some stable regions, such as the central region of the Yangtze Platform; the most pronounced high velocity area is located in the Sichuan Basin, south of Chengdu. Pn anisotropy shows a complex pattern of regional deformation. The Pn fast direction shows a prominent clockwise rotation pattern from east of the Tibetan block to the Sichuan-Yunnan diamond block to southwest Yunnan, which may be related to southeastward escape of the Tibetan Plateau material due to the collision of the Indian Plate to the Eurasia Plate. Thus there appears to be strong correlation between the crustal deformation and the upper mantle structure in the region. The delay times of events and stations show that the crust thickness decreases from the Tibetan Plateau to eastern China, which is consistent with the results from deep seismic sounding.