Abstract: The field observation, sampling and lab analysis indicate that the shale sediment of the Hetang formation of Lower Cambrian in Lower Yangtze region of South Anhui province is widely distributed in the study area, with a thickness of 60~360 m, organic carbon content of 0.5%~7.2%, thermal evolution degree of 2.0%~5.5%, possessing better hydrocarbon?generating potential. The mercury injection experiment shows that its average porosity reaches 0.716%, providing some storage spaces for the free gas. The isothermal adsorption experiment shows that the shale in study area has strong adsorption ability for the adsorbed gas averaging 0.443 cm3/g. It is suggested that the regions of related Shitai?Yixian?Jingxian?Ningguo with an area of 9 100 km2 will be the favorable areas for shale gas exploration