Abstract: The Subei basin is located in the northeastern part of the Yangtze platform, at the southern side of the Sulu orogen. This special tectonic location makes its evolution very complex. This review focuses on the recent progress in the study of the tectonic evolution of the Subei basin, especially on the basement, deep structure and formation mechanism of the basin and its relationship with the lower Yangtze region. This paper presents some problems to which attention should be paid in the future study of the tectonic evolution of the Subei basin through an analysis and summing-up of new geological data obtained in this area. They include the relation between the basement structure and shallow structure of the basin, relation between the Sulu orogen and the tectonic evolution of the Subei basin, influence of the Tanlu fault on the basin formation and kinematic mechanism of the formation of the Subei basin.