<p>The Yangtze River, with a length of approximately 6 300 km, holds the distinction of being the largest river in East Asia that empties into the Pacific Ocean. Its formation is intricately linked to regional tectonic activity and climate fluctuations. However, the exact timeline for the formation of the Yangtze River remains elusive. This study investigates the provenance of the Late Cenozoic strata in the Wangjiang Basin, situated in the Lower Yangtze River, through the application of detrital zircon U-Pb dating. Seven sand samples were analyzed, leading to the identification of new U-Pb detrital zircon ages (<i>n</i> = 577). Our study reveals that the sand materials found in the Pliocene gravel beds of the Anqing Formation originate predominantly from the Yangtze River. The findings of our study, along with the provenance tracing of boreholes in the Yangtze River Basin and the shelf sea in East China, provide compelling evidence for the continuous presence of the Yangtze River throughout the Pliocene period. The development of the Yangtze River during the Pliocene is intricately connected to both the tectonic adjustments occurring at the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau and the intensification of the Asian Monsoon.</p>