Abstract: The Tarim Basin is a unique giant geological and geomorphic unit in the hinterland of the Asian continent. It is a natural
laboratory for studying the new generation of the Earth system. Since the Cenozoic, it has experienced the geological evolution, such as
Paleogene Gulf, the Neogene lake-delta plain, the river-lake-desert, and the desert-river. The main factor affecting the change of
paleogeographical pattern is the long-range collisional orogeny, resulting in the closure of the basin and the onset of arid climate. Since
the Paleogene, the Gulf Basin has been low in the west and high in the east. The tectonic compression caused the uplift of the
surrounding mountains and the gradual closure of the basin, which is the most important driving factor for the basin evolution. During
the Neogene, it was high in the south and low in the north. With the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the surrounding mountains
continued to rise, and the geological structure was constantly closed by the surrounding mountains, forming the Tarim Basin and
developing large lakes. Since the Quaternary, the basin has been high in the west and low in the east, and has experienced the fastest
evolution of the Earth system, forming China's largest inland water system and the largest desert. The coupling and interaction of
internal and external dynamics control the evolution of the Cenozoic Earth system in the Tarim Basin. The new tectonic structures in
the Tarim Basin are active. In the giant basin, rivers, lakes, deserts, Gobi, Yadan, dry salt lakes, etc. Different geological factors
interact in space and time, shaping the evolution of the Earth system in the giant basin. The geological history of the Tarim Basin
demonstrates the rapid evolution of the Quaternary Earth system in the extremely arid regions.

Key words: Cenozoic, extreme drought, mountain uplift, river diversion, desert migration