A Review of the Study on the Origin of Xiashu Loess in the Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River

Main resultes of the researches on the origin of Xiashu Loess since 1930s are reviewed in order to further recognize the origin of Xiashu Loess and its significance for the environmental evolution in the eastern part of China. The contents discussed and reviewed mainly include the aeolian origin, the water-transporting origin and multiple origins of Xiashu Loess. To sum up, the origin of Xiashu Loess is complicated, mainly includes the aeolian origin, the water-transporting origin, and remnant and slope accumulating origin. However, in terms of the sequence and importance of the transporting forces, aeolian origin is first. In order to get a correct result when using the environmental information containing in Xiashu loess to derive environmental changes in the eastern part of China , the study section of Xiashu Loess should be selected carefully.