The Yanchang Formation in the southern Ordos basin has different depositional systems with unique characteristics. The Chang 8 oil section has braided-stream delta deposits with arkose sand bodies and gravity-flow deposits in the prodelta. The Chang 7 oil section has gravity-flow deposits mainly made of lithic sandstone in a deep lake environment. The meandering-river delta system in the northeast has large feldspathic fine sandstone sand bodies with well-developed debouch bars. These findings show that the depositional systems in the Yanchang Formation vary based on geological settings, provenance directions, and depositional environments.