Abstract: Shale oil-gas resources are abundant in China, which have become the real alternative energies. However, there are still disputes on hydrocarbon classification system, resource assessment criteria and methods for shale oil-gas resources, thus leading to a large difference in the assessment results. By deeply analyzing the connotation, types and geological characteristics of shale oil and gas and systematically summarizing the previous research results, the paper determines the shale oil-gas classification scheme, puts forwards corresponding standard resource assessment methods, and further evaluates and analyzes the potential of shale oil-gas resources in China. The results indicate that the geological reserves of shale oil in ten major basins of China reach 318.99×10⁸t, and the recoverable resources are estimated to be 22.78×10⁸t; while those of major basins/areas in China are 65.48×10¹²m³ and 13.24× 10¹²m³, respectively. Shale oil resources are mainly enriched in Ordos Basin, Songliao Basin and Bohai Bay Basin, oil reservoirs are mainly distributed in the Upper Triassic, Cretaceous and Paleogene strata, respectively, within a depth of 4 500 m. Shale gas resources primarily occurred in Sichuan Basin, most of which were in the Upper Paleozoic strata at a depth over 2 000 m. Based on the assessment results and exploration practices of shale oil-gas resources, it is considered that shale oil is mainly enriched in Member 7 of Triassic Yanchang Formation in Longdong area, Jiyuan area, and Zhijing-Ansai area of Ordos Basin, as well as the Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation in Gulong sag and Sanzhao sag of Songliao Basin, the Paleogene Shahejie Formation in Dongying sag and Zhanhua sag and the Member 2 of Paleogene Kongdian Formation in Cangdong sag of Bohai Bay Basin, as well as Lucaogou Formation in Jimusaer sag and Fengcheng Formation in Mahu sag of Junggar Basin; shale gas is mainly accumulated in Changning, Weiyuan, Luzhou and West Chongqing areas in the south of Sichuan Basin.