Abstract: The relation between the distribution of shallow strong earthquakes in China's continent from 1900 to 2001 and the rate variation of earth rotation has been investigated in this paper. The results show that most of the strong earthquakes (M≥7.0) in Tianshan, Qilian-chaidamu, Qiantang-Lasa, Chuandian block of western China and most of the strong earthquakes (M≥6.0) in Zhongchao-Ludong, east section of Huanan block of Eastern China occurred in the years with the earth rotation acceleration; most of the strong earthquakes (M≥7.0) in Diannan-Dianxi block of Western China and most of the strong earthquake (M≥6.0) in Zhongmong Huabei, west section of Huanan block of Eastern China occurred in the years with the earth rotation deceleration. And the application of the earth rotation rate variation of earthquake prediction is discussed.

Key words: Active block, Shallow earthquake, Earth rotation rate, China's continent