Active faults frequently cause earthquakes and geological disasters, produce stick slip dislocations and creep deformation, and form fault fracture zones, which directly threaten the safety of cities and projects. It is very important to determine the spatial geometric distribution, activity and avoidance distance of active faults, which can help us carry out engineering geological research and disaster prevention and reduction. Therefore, determining the spatial geometric distribution, activity and avoidance distance of active faults has guiding significance for engineering geological research and disaster prevention and reduction. Methods: Through remote sensing interpretation, faulty landform, trough profile and 14C dating to research the distribution and activity of the central section of Bangda fault of Nujiang (River) fault. Results: The results show middle section of Bangda fault has occurred one earthquake event at 1457±51/1598±47 a BP, which can induce medium strong earthquakes. The fault activity is mainly controlled by the southward escape extrusion of the Sichuan—Yunnan diamond block and the direct extrusion of the Indian plate in the NEE direction. The central section of Bangda fault is high- angle Holocene active faults, with have a strike- slip and thrust components fault. Conclusions: This study provides basic data for understanding the activity of the east branch of the central section of Bangda fault of Nujiang (River) fault and the seismic fortification of engineering.