Abstract: The interbedded sediments of the deep-water clastic rocks and clear-water carbonate rocks in the Upper Carboniferous Taiyuan Formation in southern North China are interpreted as the alternating marine and continental sediments which are formed in strand plain, gulf, barrier lagoon and epi-continental shallow marine environments. The“cheniers”developed on the strand plain during the deposition of the Taiyuan Formation owe their origin to frequent storm processes in the light of vertical sequence analysis and associated regional data. Their formation has revealed the complex history of transgression-regression related to sea level rises and falls, and has constructive implications for coal accumulation and subsequent hydrocarbon accumulation and preservation in the peat bogs on the strand plain.