The Longmaxi Formation of the Silurian in middle-upper Yangtze area is a set of high-quality hydrocarbon source developed in restricted shallow sea environment. Especially the black shale in the deposition centers of southern Sichuan, northern Sichuan, southeastern Chongqing to northern Guizhou is most developed. The type of kerogen in the southern and northern Sichuan is dominated by type-I and the maturity of organic matter is in the middle-late stage of high maturity, which is dominated by generating pyrolysis gas-wet gas; The type of kerogen in the southeastern Chongqing to northern Guizhou is type-Ⅱ1 and the maturity of organic matter reaches overmature, dominated by generating dry gas. This paper suggested that Longmaxi Formation of the Silurian in middle-upper Yangtze area has favorable conditions to form shale gas reservoirs.