Since the Miocene Yanqi basin has been overthrusted from north by Tianshan belt and from south by Kuluktag belt because of the Himalayan orogenic event.The Yanqi basin is now one of foreland basins.

• 喜马拉雅造山事件以来，其南北两侧山体向盆地内对冲，形成典型前陆冲断褶皱构造，盆地内发育一系列台阶状断层及其断层相关褶皱。