Abstract: The advances about sedimentological study of fan deltas were reviewed based upon a great database of numerous research literatures at home and abroad，including 1)definition，classification and terminology;2)lithofacies and sedimentary sequences characteristics;3)depositional models and 4)research methodology. It is suggested that classifications for fan deltas should be more practical in their applications，the hydraulic and geomorphic parameters from modern delta front，and the most important rock characters from the ancient stratigraphic records should all be considered. The hydrodynamic principle should be involved in interpretation of the lithofacies of fan deltas.More studies are needed to analyze the controlling effects of tectonic movement，climatic vibration，sea/lake level changes and depositional autocyclic processes on the formation of fan dealtaic depositional sequences. Fan delta models type may increase with time and new methods such as flume experiment，computerized forward modeling and geostatistic stochastic simulation may be used more frequently in fan delta sedimentological research in the future