Abstract: The Guizhong Depression represents a significant new area for shale gas exploration in the periphery of Sichuan Basin. However, its exploration progress has been constrained by the complex structural setting and surface conditions. In order to systematically summarize the achievements of public welfare geological surveys for shale gas in this area, identify key issues, and define breakthrough directions, the authors in this paper have comprehensively reviewed the history of the Devonian-Carboniferous shale gas geological surveys in Guizhong Depression based on public welfare geological survey data since 2012. The exploration stages were delineated and the geological characteristics of organic-rich shales were summarized. Besides, the existing problems and challenges were analyzed. The results showed that Luzhai Formation in the Lower Carboniferous was the primary shale gas exploration target in Guizhong Depression. Multiple wells have encountered shale gas shows, and exploration blocks have been successfully auctioned. The public welfare geological survey efforts have progressed through three stages-initiation, development, and breakthrough, and a complete exploration chain was preliminarily established, including geological survey-drilling verification-resource assessment-block auction. Nevertheless, exploration still faces four major constraints, that is rapid sedimentary facies changes with unclear organic matter enrichment characteristics, complex preservation conditions caused by multi-stage tectonic reworking, low seismic imaging quality in carbonate-covered areas, and poor drilling adaptability in karst landforms. In response to these challenges, the authors proposed a future exploration strategy, which was expanding stratum-deepening mechanism-upgrading technology. The exploration strategy included consolidating the Carboniferous as the primary target while expanding the succeeding exploration strata, deepening the characterization of favorable facies belts and preservation condition assessment, and tackling integrated geophysical exploration techniques in carbonate areas. The shale gas exploration practice in Guizhong Depression indicates that the public welfare geological survey has played a pioneering and fundamental role in marine shale gas exploration and development in complex structural areas, providing references for shale gas exploration.