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Our understanding of the late Eocene to early Oligocene provenance evolution of the East China Sea Shelf Basin has been limited, which hampers our study of the synergistic effects between East Asia offshore sedimentation and major rivers. To address this, we compared newly acquired detrital zircon chronological data from the East China Sea with published detrital U–Pb ages of major rivers in East Asia. Through this analysis, we have been able to reconstruct the provenance changes of sediments in the East China Sea during this crucial period. We have identified two large-scale and three small-scale denudation surfaces that developed in the Pinghu and lower Huagang Formations. These surfaces indicate that sediments were also derived from underlying strata and bedrock, particularly in the lower Pinghu and lower Huagang Formations. The newly acquired detrital zircon U–Pb age range was found to be roughly similar, ranging from 36.2 ± 0.7 to 2954.0 ± 30.3 Ma. The age peaks of the lower Pinghu Formation were more consistent, while the middle, upper Pinghu Formation, and lower Huagang Formation exhibited multiple age peaks. Comparing the compiled zircon U–Pb age peaks of the Chuanjiang segment of the upper Yangtze River with those of the East China Sea Shelf Basin, we found relative similarity. Additionally, the younger zircon grains with ages <500 Ma in the east Cathaysia catchment showed similarities with the East China Sea Shelf Basin. In terms of provenance contribution, the sediments of the lower Pinghu Formation were predominantly provided by the adjacent uplifts in the east Cathaysia catchment, with the Chuanjiang segment also playing a significant role. From the middle Pinghu Formation onwards, the provenance from the Chuanjiang segment became dominant, accounting for over 90 % of the sediments. However, this influence was limited to the northern part of the study area. This suggests a substantial increase in the Yangtze River catchment during this period, potentially related to the complete connection of the modern Yangtze River. • Massive Chuanjiang segment sediments were deposited since the middle Pinghu Formation. • East Cathayisa catchment and adjacent uplift provenance dominant in the lower Pinghu Formation. • The provenance evolution of the Pinghu Formation is related to the birth of modern Yangtze River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]