Why is Qinghai prone to earthquakes?

Qinghai province is prone to earthquakes primarily due to its location within a tectonically complex zone shaped by the ongoing collision between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.12

This massive continental convergence, which began approximately 40 million years ago, is responsible for the uplift of the Himalayas and the Plateau of Tibet. As the Indian plate continues its northward movement, it exerts immense pressure on the region, causing significant crustal deformation and forcing the crust upward.2314

The Plateau of Tibet is home to several major fault systems, such as the Kunlun and Xianshuihe systems. Seismic activity in Qinghai is frequently linked to the movement of these faults, including strike-slip faults like the Yushu fault, as the plateau shifts and adjusts to the tectonic stresses caused by the collision. Consequently, the province experiences frequent seismic activity, ranging from moderate tremors to major, destructive earthquakes.241