Abstract Studies on the mechanisms of shale gas adsorption are of great significance for shale gas accumulation and reserves evaluation. In order to investigate the mechanisms of shale gas adsorption from the perspective of methane adsorption thermodynamics and kinetics, high-pressure methane adsorption and adsorption kinetics experiments were measured at 40.6 °C, 60.6 °C, 75.6 °C and 95.6 °C at pressures up to 52 MPa for the Lower Silurian Longmaxi shale sample collected from the Southern Sichuan Basin, China. The adsorption isotherms and kinetics curves of methane were obtained and a detailed analysis was performed. The results indicate that (1) Under the condition of 0–52 MPa, the absolute adsorption isotherm of methane on shale has the characteristics of type I adsorption isotherm. Temperature has an important effect on the maximum excess and absolute adsorption of methane. At the same temperature, the absolute adsorption amount of methane on shale increases slower at a higher pressure, which suggests that the methane adsorption rate decreases at a higher pressure. (2) The average isosteric heat of adsorption of methane on shale is 21.06 kJ/mol, indicating that the dominant adsorption process of methane on shale may be physical adsorption. The isosteric heat of adsorption increases with increasing absolute methane adsorption amount, indicating that the adsorption heat is mainly affected by the interaction between the adsorbed methane molecules. (3) Bangham kinetic model can be used to describe the dynamic adsorption process of methane on shale. Higher temperature and pressure lead to a lower Bangham adsorption rate constant, which makes it more difficult to adsorb methane molecules for shale. This is consistent with the conclusion drawn from the thermodynamics study of absolute adsorption isotherms of methane on shale.