Objectives: This work shows the results of computing the 3D density disturbance images in Chinese continent and interpretation of the these results based on geodynamics and petrophysics, especially for crust beneath orogenic belts.Methods:We apply the scale—depth relationship of gravity anomalies and the multiscale wavelet for extracting crustal density information from surface Bouguer gravity data of Chinese continent, and presents source disturbance images of the upper, middle and lower crust, which represent the three dimensional density structures in the studied area. Results:The density structures beneath orogenic belts can be divided into four types: (1) relatively low in whole crust; (2) relatively low in the upper and middle crust, but high in the lower crust; (3) relatively high in the upper and middle crust, but low in the lower crust; and (4) relatively high in whole crust. In southern, middle and northern of Qingzang Plateau, the orogenic belts belong to three different types of the density structures respectively. Based on geodynamics and petrophysics, we infer this arrangement was the result of the collision between India and Eurasia plates. Based on the lowdensity crustal structures and thickness, one can recognize most of the platemargin or intraplate orogenic belts.Conclusions: As the results shows, different from craton terranes, the lower crust of the orogenic belts is usually of low density, except few fold maintains created by weak collision between two small blocks during the Paleozoic.