In this study, we aim to clarify the structural characteristics and deformation process of the Changning anticline. We carefully interpret 38 two-dimensional (2D) seismic profiles in the study area and establish three-dimensional (3D) geometric and quantitative kinematic models of the Changning anticline. This study shows that the basement fault controls the formation of the Changning anticline. The fault slope of the main fault in the basement shows ‘steep in the upper and gentle in the lower’ structural characteristics vertically, possessing obvious segmentary characteristics transversely and presents the overall characteristics of ‘steep in the east and gentle in the west’. Further analysis shows that the Changning anticline proceeds west and terminates at the boundary defined by current surface features but gradually disappears westward across the Mt. Huaying fault zone. Furthermore, we identified that deformation of the Changning anticline began during the early Yanshanian movement period. Under compressional stress from the southeast, the anticline slid forward along the basement fault until the end of the Yanshanian movement period, when the dominant WNW–ESE structure gradually emerged. Since the Himalayan movement period, a series of NE-trending structures have been formed in the anticline, owing to multi-directional compressive stress.