Abstract: Identification of paleo-earthquake events in trench depends on the interpretation of the structural deformations and associated sedimentary responses preserved in the sedimentary strata. Based on 88papers of paleoseismic studies of strike-slip fault published in China and abroad, the authors systematically summarized the empirical paleoseismic indicators, which includes vertical offset, upward termination of fault, growth strata, infilled fissures, angular unconformities, liquefactions, colluvial wedges and folds. The quality and frequency of these event indicators constitute the key to distinguishing paleoseismic events and event horizons. Ground deformation caused by non-structuralfactor and creepingis slightly different from eventindicators.In practice, the semiquantitative methodcan minimize the influence of non-seismic genetic deformations, reduce the risk of misestimating of paleoearthquake events, and give an objective event confidence level.