Yongjin area is located in the middle of Junggar basin, northwestern China, where several hydrocarbon- bearing structures associated with strike- slip faults have recently been discovered. However, the development characteristics and genetic mechanism of strike- slip faults are not thoroughly studied. Based on detailed interpretation of three dimensional seismic data, three groups of strike- slip fault systems are identified in the Triassic- Jurassic strata in the study area, which are nearly east- west, north- west- west and north- east- east trends. The distribution characteristics of the strike- slip fault system are longitudinal stratified and planar “grid” pattern structure. Based on the similarity principle, four groups of structural physical sandbox simulation and comparison experiments were designed to reproduce the tectonic evolution process in the study area. The simulation results indicated that the formation of such kind of strike- slip faults is related to the location of pre- existing faults of the basement. This kind of distributed strike- slip fault system in Yongjin area was controlled by both pre- existing structures and stratum properties, thus a genetic model of the study area has been established. The research results have guiding significance for the genesis of strike- slip fault systems in areas with similar geological settings.