In　addition　to　overall　uplift　of　the　Qiabuqia　region　during　the　Late　Cenozoic,　three　deformation　stages　can　be　identified　in　the　northeastern　Qinghai–Tibet　Plateau.　Specifically,　these　deformation　stages　were　recognized　in　areas　east　of　the　Gonghe　Basin　that　surrounds　Waliguan　Mountain　and　include:　1)　Late　Miocene　to　Late　Pliocene　deformation—dominated　by　thrust　napping　with　dextral　strike-slipping;　2)　Early　Pleistocene　to　late　middle　period　of　Pleistocene　deformation—fault　structures　were　dominated　by　the　dextral　strike-slipping　with　thrust　napping;　and　3)　end　of　Late　Pleistocene　to　Middle　Holocene　deformation—thrust　napping　slowed　down　and　finally　braked,　while　the　shallow　surface　began　to　loosen　and　extend　at　Qiabuqia　region’s　rear-edge.　DR4　borehole　drilling　data　indicate　that　the　Xiangshuihe　Formation’s　buried　depth　is　∼1,000 m.　The　Xianshuihe　Formation’s　top　section　is　characterized　by　normal　fault–type　(NF)　tectonic　stress,　while　the　maximum　principal　tectonic　stress　(σ1)　is　perpendicular　and　the　minimum　principal　tectonic　stress　(σ3)　is　horizontal.　In　contrast,　the　deep　basement　is　characterized　by　thrust　fault　(TF)　and　strike-slip　(SS)　tectonic　stress,　while　the　σ1　is　in　the　NE-SW　direction,　ranging　from　20.1°　to　75.3°　with　an　average　of　40.0°.　Based　on　the　aforementioned　observations,　it　can　be　inferred　that　there　are　three　sets　of　hidden　faults　in　the　basement　of　the　Qiabuqia　region:　1)　the　NW–NNW　trending　compressional–torsional　faults;　2)　the　NE　trending　tensional–torsional　faults;　and　3)　the　NWW　trending　compressional–torsional　faults.　The　findings　in　this　study　can　potentially　offer　a　robust　geological　basis　for　exploring　and　utilizing　hot,　dry　rock　resources　within　the　Gonghe　Basin.　Copyright　©　2023　Yang,　Qingda,　Fucheng,　Linyou,　Chao,　Senqi,　Dunpeng,　Zhen,　Jian,　Lei　and　Zhaoxuan.