As one of the most famous faults in China, the Tan-Lu Fault Zone in eastern China has attracted much attention from scholars in both domestic and foreign countries since its discovery. Due to the development of a series of related Cenozoic hydrocarbon basins along this fault zone, the Cenozoic structural research has become a hot spot in the academic and petroleum circles, but there are still many controversies. Based on systematically reviewing the main research progress of the Tan-Lu Fault Zone, the article focuses on summarising the latest research results on the deformation characteristics of the faults, its evolution history and its mechanism, the starting period of dextral strike-slip, as well as the amount of strike-slip displacements since the Cenozoic. Furthermore, we apply the generalised fault theory to discuss the existing controversies and propose the new insight that the dextral slip in the Tan-Lu Fault Zone since 38 Ma is formed by the differential re-activation of a large-scale pre-existing structure (the Tan-Lu Fault Zone) under the nearly north-south extensional tectonic setting, which is further investigated and demonstrated by the analogue modelling. It is also hypothesised that the dynamics of this extensional stress regime may originate from the slab-window effect produced by the subduction of the near east-west spreading mid-ocean ridge between the Pacific - Kula Plate. The above new insights can be used to provide a reasonable explanation for the deformation characteristics of the dextral strike-slip, the differential distribution of slip displacements in the Tan-Lu Fault Zone, and the complex structural and sedimentary features in the adjacent basins along its strike. In addition, the new insights into the mechanism of the Cenozoic dextral strike-slip of the Tan-Lu Fault Zone are expected to provide useful inspiration and guidance for future structural studies in eastern China, the exploration and development of oil and gas-bearing basins along the fault zone, and the development and utilisation of mineral resources.