Abstract: Any big basins are related the regional structural background in terms of formation, shaping and development. The global oil and gas distribution is in close relations with large structural belts. The foreland basins are the oil and gas abundance zones while the palaeohighs control the large-scale oil and gas accumulation. Distribution ofmajor oil and gas zones in the world is apparently characterized with sequence from foreland basin to palaeohigh. China's basins are characterized with regional structural features, such as making-up of small continental blocksmulti-cycling, and strong inland structural activities in later periods. Based on the global oil and gas exploration experiences and China's unique geological features, the future exploration should be focused on foreland basins, palaeohighs, large-area stratigraphic lithological belts of sag-type basins, and oil-enriched depressions of rift basins. With adoption of integrated exploration methods, new breakthroughs will be made in China's exploration through tenacious efforts.