The western margin of Yangtze Craton is known as a significant sediment-hosted base-metal aggregate cluster, especially for Pb–Zn deposits in China, e.g. Jinding, Daliangzi, Tianbaoshan, Kuangshanchang and Qinlinchang deposits. In comparison with the classic MVT deposits in the world, based on the basic geology of the sediment-hosted Pb-Zn deposits, this paper focuses on temporal–spatial distribution of this deposit to further discuss its large scale mineralization and tectonic evolution history. In the SW Sanjiang Thethys, Jinding deposit is typically thrust fault-controlled and hosted mainly in the sandstones and breccia-bearing sandstones, whereas MVT-type deposits are controlled by lithology and faulting/fracturing with a strong preference for carbonate-hosted rocks. Most importantly, Jinding Pb–Zn deposit differs from the other types of sediment-hosted Pb–Zn deposits in which it was formed in a strongly deformed foreland basin within a continental collision zone. In the Kangdian area, the sediment-hosted Pb–Zn deposits were formed in the extensional basin on the side of the continental orogenic belt along the Yangtze Craton. Compared with classic MVT deposits, the Pb–Zn deposits in the Kangdian area belong to MVT deposits. This paper is significant not only for interpretation of the genesis of sediment-hosted Pb–Zn deposits but also for exploiting large base metal deposits in large sedimentary target areas.