Abstract Sinian glaciogenic rocks are widespread in Shennongjia, Hubei. They are best preserved in western Shennongjia where the glacial Gucheng and Nantuo Formations are separated by the non-glacial Datanpo Formation, which is chiefly composed of carbonaceous silty shale and siltstone. In eastern Shennongjia most of the Lower Sinian succession is, however, absent and the Nantuo Formation rests with angular unconformity on the pre-Sinian basement. The glacial sedimentary facies mainly comprise three types; namely the lodgement facies, meltwater facies and proglacial subaqueous facies. The lodgement facies is predominant in the eastern area but outwash deposits are more abundant in the western area. Major glacial transport during the Nantuo Ice Age is inferred to have been from the ESE, based on pre-glacial palaeogeography, provenance of clasts and regional variations in glacial sedimentary facies. During the Nantuo Ice Age, the Jingshan Mountain, which is situated to the east of Shennongjia, was a glacial source area. Jianghan glacial erosion and deposition was in the form of an incomplete ring-shape; the Mufu Mountain area, which is situated at the juncture between southeastern Hubei and northwestern Jiangxi provinces, and was far removed from the source areas, received outwash deposits.