Abstract: Through detailed field investigation, palaeoflood slackwater deposits (SWDs) were identified from loesspalaeosol profiles in the upper reach of Huaihe River Basin. Through detailed observations and sampling, the samples were analyzed based on particle sizes and geochemical elements, and dating in optically stimulated luminescence. These data were further compared with global El Nio events recorded since the beginning of the Holocene. The results show that flooding occurred at least six times during the last 8,500 years in the upper reach of Huaihe River Basin, and those occurrences correlate well with El Nio. By comparing the contents of different grain fractions of sediments, SWD is considered as the dominant component in the range of coarse grain size, whereas the loesspalaeosol is the dominant component in fine grain size range. The difference between the SWDs and loesspalaeosols is apparent. Thus, palaeoflood SWDs can be identified effectively based on particle size characteristics. The geochemical analysis shows that the elements in the sedimentary units of this profile have distinct differences; SiO2 and Th contents are significantly lower and Fe2O3, CaO, MgO, P, V, Sr, and Nb contents are more enriched in the SWDs than in the loesspalaeosols, although Al2O3, Na2O, K2O, Cr, Zn, and Rb contents did not show significant differences between profile layers. Palaeoflood SWDs can also be well identified based on geochemical compositions. We identified the palaeoflood SWDs, and get the palaeofloods data in the upper reach of Huaihe River Basin since the early Holocene. The results also show that these floods are closely related to the global El Nio phenomenon.