The migration processes of the Cenozoic intracontinental foreland basins in western China provide valuable insights into the shortening and uplifting histories of coupled orogenic belts. A comprehensive review of the research methodologies used to reconstruct foreland basin migration and its quantitative relationship with crustal shortening enables us to uncover the structural implications of this process. Seismic reflection profiles crossing the foreland basins image the stratal onlaps and conglomerate-sandstone transitions in the basins. Based on the interpretations of seismic profiles, the migration rate of foreland basins can be determined by integrating stratigraphic age constraints derived from magnetostratigraphy. The variations in the rates correspond to the variations in the underthrusting rates of the foreland basin basement relative to the orogenic belts, revealing changes in the horizontal crustal shortening rates absorbed by the orogenic belts. Through a comparative analysis of the migration processes of the rejuvenated intracontinental foreland basins on the northern side of the West Kunlun Mountains and the southern and northern sides of the Tianshan Mountains, these two mountains contrast markedly in terms of crustal shortening rates and deformation patterns since approximately 30 Ma. The contrast between these mountains indicates differences in their dynamic mechanisms. Furthermore, this method holds great potential for future applications in unraveling the growth process of the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.