The temperature distributions of the lithosphere underneath the mainland of China were estimated by applying local isostatic equilibrium-constrained geothermal calculations. Maps of the lateral temperature variation at depths of 40, 70, and 100 km are presented for the whole Chinese continent, with the thermal thickness of the lithosphere is calculated. Lithospheric roots of 160-200 km thickness underlie Tarim and the Upper Yangtze Korean platform. In general, the Tibetan plateau lithospheres, whereas thinner thermal lithospheres platform, but are absent beneath the entire Sino- and fold belts to the north have warm but thick have been identified in northern Tibet and central Tian Shan around Issyk-Kul Lake. The warm and soft lithosphere in the Tibetan plateau and Tian Shan are caused by uniform north-south shortening, which may represent a snapshot of the early stage of convective thinning of the convergent lithosphere. However, the lithospheric thinning beneath northeastern China might be related to volatile infiltration by dehydration of the deeply subducting Pacific slab during the Cenozoic. Dry and wet upper mantle rheology display ＂jelly sandwich＂ and ＂cr^me brfil^e＂ pictures, respectively, demonstrating the mechanical behaviour of the Chinese lithosphere outside the Tibetan plateau. Considering a more geologically evident wet-mantle rheology, the ＂creme brulee＂ model can approximate the lithospheric rheology for the most earthquake-prone regions on the Chinese mainland.
For understanding the Mesozoic tectonics of Yanshan （燕山 ） belt, the authors took geological mapping in the belt. A large-scale thrust structure was identified in Yonganpu （永安堡） area. in the western part of Suizhong （绥中 ） County, Liaoning （辽宁 ） Province during our recent mapping in the Yanshan belt. The hanging wall of the thrust was composed of Archean gneiss and the overlying Early Cretaceous Zhangjiakou （张家口 ） Formation; meanwhile, the strongly ductile deformed volcanic rocks of Zhangjiakou Formation comprised the footwall in Yong＇anpu tectonic window. This discovery indicates the existence of strongly contractional deformation in the Yanshan belt after the eruption of Early Cretaceous Zhangjiakou volcanic rocks. On the basis of mapping and research, it is concluded that the published official geological maps have failed to identify the major structural features of the Yanshan belt.
