The Quaternary stratigraphy of the Yangtze delta has been revealed by a deep (344.64 m) continuous borehole, the sediments of which are divided into four sections, the Early (Q 1 ), Middle (Q 2 ), and Late Pleistocene (Q 3 ), and the Holocene (Q 4 ). Six lithofacies include lacustrine, fluvial, coastal, drowned river channel, deltaic, and shallow marine in these time periods. The fluvial and lacustrine lithofacies prevailed during Q 1 and Q 2 ; coastal and drowned river channel lithofacies periodically appeared in Q 1 , Q 2 , and Q 3 ; shallow marine lithofacies dominated Q 3 ; and deltaic lithofacies occurred in Q 4 . Based on stratigraphy, four transgressive events are inferred. Trace-element (Sr, Ba, B, Ga, V) content and ratios of Sr/Ba and B/Ga are considered with regard to their distribution in the various lithofacies. Geochemical facies criteria are established based on combined diagnostic indices: Sr > 160 ppm, B > 90 ppm, Sr/Ba > 0.35, B/Ga > 4.0 for the shallow marine lithofacies; Sr < 90 ppm, B < 50 ppm, Sr/Ba < 0.2, B/Ga < 2.5 for the terrigenous lithofacies. These indices correspond well to paleosalinity data obtained using the sedimentary phosphate method (Ca/Ca + Fe). Transgressive events identified by the geochemical indices are mostly the same as reflected by marine fossils. Nevertheless, geochemical indices can indicate the occurrence of a weak transgression, where marine fossils are rare.