Cheniers in China: An overview

In various regions along the east and southeast coast of China and on the outer shelf of the East China Sea, series of cheniers have been found and studied. Their geomorphological and sedimentological features have been described and the main conditions for their formation established. The development of cheniers in China can be divided into three periods: 24,000-15,000 yrs B.P., 7000-5000 yrs B.P. and 5000 yrs B.P. onwards. These periods have been based on 14C datings of 80 shell samples. The chenier groups of the three periods are distributed throughout various geomorphological locations. Using the geomorphological locations of the cheniers in combination with their age of formation, the palaeopositions of the Chinese coastline in the various periods since 24,000 yrs B.P. are described. The history of the position of the east coast of China, including the features attesting to sealevel changes during this era, is briefly discussed.