The Altyn Mountains along the northwestern margin of the Qaidam basin act as the north-west boundary of the Qaidam basin and Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

• 柴达木盆地西北缘的阿尔金山，位于青藏高原的西北边界，自第三纪以来发生了多次隆升事件，其中以早更新世末的一次最为强烈。