This paper discusses the geological contexts of the Guanling fauna, which occurs in the lower Carnian (Upper Triassic) Wayao Formation in the Guanling area of Guizhou Province, southwestern China. The conclusions are as follows: 1) the lithological and faunal characters indicate that the Guanling fauna most likely lived in a rift valley environment; 2) the Kueichousaurus hui fauna is herein correlated with the Guanling fauna based on conodonts, ammonoids and the Halobia-assemblage; and 3) the spatial distribution of the Guanling fauna and the Kueichousaurus hui fauna follow a  “S-shaped zone”.