In order to study the characteristics of the Jurassic strata in the eastern segment of the northern Qaidam Basin and its surrounding regions and their response to tectonic activities. Methods: The authors based on the field geological survey of the Jurassic in the Hongshan, Huobuxun and Delingha sags in the eastern segment of the northern Qaidam Basin, through stratigraphic contact relationship tracing, interpretation of 2D seismic data and analysis of lithological and lithofacies mutation characteristics, and comparative analysis with the Jurassic strata development characteristics of other typical basins in Northwest China. Results:The first episode of Yanshanian tectonic movement in the eastern segment of the northern Qaidam Basin and its surrounding regions occurred in the Early—Middle Jurassic. It is relatively uniform in paleogeography and paleo- tectonic environment, and coarse clastic sags are developed. Each sag has episodic sedimentary filling characteristics. In contrast with other basins in Northwest China, this episode of tectonic movement affected large areas but weak intensity. The second episode of Yanshanian tectonic movement in the eastern segment of the northern Qaidam Basin and its surrounding regions occurred in the Late Jurassic—Early Cretaceous, which led to the transformation of paleogeography and paleo- tectonic environment to a new environment, characterized by the angular unconformity between the Middle—Late Jurassic and the incompleteness of the Cretaceous and Upper Jurassic.Conclusions: The stratigraphic feature of first episode is presumed to be related to the extension after the collision of various plates around Northwestern China; the stratigraphic feature of second episode is related to the collision between the Lhasa Block and the Eurasian Plate, the closure of the Mongolia—Okhotsk Ocean and the collision of the Kolyma—Omolon Block.