There are extensively three sets of marine regional organic-rich shale stones in southern China as lower Cambrian, lower Silurian and upper Permian and also continental organicrich shale stones in Sichuan Basin, Jianghan Basin and Subei Basin, possessing geological conditions to creating shale gas. Meanwhile, comparing with those in U.S., the shale gas in southern China is featured by multiple superimposition and reforms by structural movements, high Ro, complicated preserving conditions while the TOC and porosity of continental shale stones are relatively lower. Therefore, many challenges are faced for shale gas explorations in southern China and blind optimism should be avoided. The authors consider that the marine and continental shale stones are the realistic fields to realize shale gas exploration and development with large scales and the continental shale stones in Jianghan Basin, Subei Basin can be taken as the mothball field for shale gas exploration in southern China.