The Jiangsu part of the Tan-Lu Fault Zone shows widespread activity during Quaternary.
The main Quaternary faults show evidence of thrusting with a minor dextral component.
The ENE–WSW compression was responsible for the Quaternary faulting.
The most recent period of activity was the late Pleistocene, which is consistent with the absence of M ⩾ 4.0 earthquakes.
The main active faults originated from reactivation of the Cretaceous graben-boundary faults.