【Objective】Soil chronology is of great pedogenetic significance, for it is closely related to the forming and developing processes of a soil. In this paper, the Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating method was employed to determine age of the alpine meadow soil in the Qinghai Lake Basin on the northeast fringe of the Qingzang Plateau. Four alpine meadow soil profiles (XPSD1, XPSD2, RYS1 and RYS2) were prepared for dating. Adaptability and reliability of the OSL dating method for alpine meadow soils in the Qinghai Lake Basin was evaluated. Pedogenic process and its climatic background were also discussed. 【Method】The silt-sized (38~63 µm) quartz OSL single-aliquot regenerative (SAR) dose protocol was used to acquire equivalent dose (D_e). OSL signals of all the samples decayed very quickly, displaying characteristics of the signals of the typical fast quartz fraction. The preheating test set 240 ℃ as preheating temperature. All D_e distributed quite concentratively, showing a Gaussian distribution curve, which demonstrates that the quartz particles in the profile of Xiangpishan were well bleached before deposition. Environmental dose rates were determined using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Eventually age of the meadow soil of the profile was determined. In addition, development of the soil was characterized through analysis of particle size and organic matter content of the soil.【Result】According to the theory of pedogenesis, the genetic horizon of the meadow soil could be divided into grass felty layer (Afe), humus layer (Ah), parent material layer overlapped with a humus layer (CAhb) and parent rock layer (C). The bottom of XPSD1, XPSD2, RYS1 and RYS2 dated back 0.9±0.1 ka, 16.2±1.8 ka, 3.2±0.2 ka and 3.7±0.2 ka, respectively. The parent materials of the alpine meadow soil in the Qinghai Lake Basin was mainly of aeolian loess deposit, with 50%~75% of silt, 10%~40% of sand and 10%~20% of clay, so the soil is sorted as sandy silt. The aeolian dust plays an important role in the pedogenetic process of the alpine meadow soil in the Qinghai Lake Basin. Considering the alpine meadow soil features strong grass and humus accumulation, the OSL of the bottom of the Ah layer or the interface between the Ah and CAhb layers is used as indicator for dating of the alpine meadow soil. The OSL dating results demonstrate that the meadow soil in the Qinghai Lake Basin developed mainly during late Holocene (4~0 ka). The phenomenon of an inverted chronosequence of old upper layer (2.6±0.1 ka) and new bottom layer (70 cm depth, 0.6±0.1 ka) was discovered at Profile XPSD2, which could probably be attributed to the effect of freezing and thawing erosion.【Conclusion】The OSL dating method is validated to be adaptable and reliable for dating alpine meadow soils. The alpine meadow soil in the Qinghai Lake Basin is derived from aeolian deposits, and follows the mode of aeolian dust aggradation in soil development. The alpine meadow soil in the Qinghai Lake Basin formed mainly during the late Holocene (4~0 ka) and is deemed to be a product of dry and cold climate, taking into account the environmental records of the region. In profile XPSD2, the bottom loess parent material layer goes in parallel unconformable contact with the upper soil layer, showing a deposition hiatus of ~14 ka.