The paleoelevation change can provide important information for understanding the tectonic uplift processes and mechanisms of the Qinghai—Xizang(Tibetan) Plateau. Meanwhile, the study of paleoelevation in the central—northern parts of the Qinghai—Xizang(Tibetan) Plateau lags behind compared with the southern part of the plateau due to the limitations of research materials and conditions. Based on this, we selected a profile (named the Tuotuo River section) in the Tuotuo River Basin, a sub- basin of the Hoh Xil Basin, in the northeast of the Qiangtang Terrane, to reconstruct the paleoelevation change of this section.Methods: Analyzing carbonate carbon isotopes and then applying empirical formulas of paleoelevation, which is suitable to the Tuotuo River Basin, to reconstruct the late Eocene to Early Miocene paleoelevation of the Tuotuo River Section.Results:The tectonic uplift of the Tuotuo River Basin can be divided into three stages. The first stage is ~37.0~30.5 Ma, and the altitude changes from 2397 m to 2940 m, which is the active stage of tectonic uplift; the second stage is 30.5~26.0 Ma, and the altitude changes from 2940 m to 3100 m, which is relative weaker of the tectonic uplift; the third stage is 26.0~19.7 Ma, and the altitude changes from 3100 m to about 3150 m, which is a relatively static stage of tectonic uplift activity.Conclusions: The Tuotuo River Basin experienced an obvious two- stage uplift process during the Cenozoic, from the late Eocene to the early Miocene and the middle Miocene (~16.0 Ma) to the present. The upper crust shortening and deformation and “mantle convective removal” or “lower crustal flow” or “magmatic inflation” could be applied to explain the two phases uplift, respectively.