In order to establish deformation history for the Cenozoic development of the Tibetan Plateau, we conducted geologic mapping along a 120km traverse between Nangqian and Yushu in the northeastern Qiangtang terrane. This work reveals a complex interaction among Tertiary thrusting, strike|slip faulting, sedimentation, and igneous activity. Two phases of deformation are recognized. The older northeast—southwest shortening, expressed by thrusting and folding, is followed by left|slip faulting along northwest|trending faults. Tertiary thrusts, predominantly southwest|dipping, are distributed throughout the traverse, and typically juxtapose Mesozoic strata over Paleogene strata. The latter were deposited in several separated basins during folding and thrusting, as indicated by well|developed growth strata. A preliminary construction of balanced cross|sections suggests a minimum estimate of 45km of crustal shortening along the traverse. Numerous hypabyssal intrusions were mapped in the southern part of the traverse near Nangqian. They were emplaced into the Paleogene sediments and are dated between 36 and 33Ma by 40 Ar/ 39 Ar and U|Pb methods. Paleogene sediments are also interbedded with volcanics in both the southern and northern parts of the study area. In the northernmost part of the traverse, a volcanic unit overlies a Tertiary thrust. This unit itself is broadly folded. This relationship suggests that Tertiary igneous activity was coeval with contractional deformation in the region, implying strongly the causal relationship between the two processes. The youngest event in the area is the development of northwest|trending left|slip faults. They cut Tertiary thrusts, folds, and about 35Ma igneous intrusions. In contrast to widely distributed Tertiary folds and thrusts, strike|slip faulting is restricted only to the southern portion of our mapped area near Nangqian. The strike|slip faults apparently control the distribution of modern drainage systems, suggesting that they may have been active recently. As the younger strike|slip faults are subparallel to the older folds and thrusts, we have not been able to determine the magnitude of left|slip on these faults. We interpret the termination of contractional deformation and the subsequent replacement by strike|slip faulting as a result of both clockwise rotation of the region and westward propagation of strike|slip deformation in eastern Tibet. In order to establish deformation of the Tibetan Plateau, we conducted geologic mapping along a 120km traverse between Nangqian and Yushu in the northeastern Qiangtang terrane. This work reveals a complex interaction among Tertiary thrusting, strike | slip faulting, The older northeast-southwest shortening, expressed by thrusting and folding, is followed by left | slip faulting along northwest | trending faults. Tertiary thrusts, predominantly southwest | dipping, are distributed throughout the traverse, and typically juxtapose Mesozoic strata over Paleogene strata. The latter were deposited in several separated basins during folding and thrusting, as indicated by well developed growth strata. A preliminary construction of balanced cross | sections suggests a minimum estimate of 45km of crustal shortening along the traverse. Numerous hypabyssal intrusions were mapped in the southern part of the traverse near Nangqian. They were emplaced into the Paleogene sediments and are dated between 36 and 33Ma by 40 Ar / 39 Ar and U | Pb methods. Paleogene sediments are also interbedded with volcanics in both the southern and northern part of the study area. In the northernmost part of the traverse, a volcanic unit overlies a Tertiary thrust. This unit suggests is Tertiary igneous activity was coeval with contractional deformation in the region, implying strongly the causal relationship between the two processes. The youngest event in the area is the development of northwest | trending left | slip faults. They cut Tertiary thrusts, folds, and about 35Ma igneous intrusions. In contrast to widely distributed Tertiary folds and thrusts , strike | slip faulting is restricted only to the southern portion of our mapped area near Nangqian. The strike | slip faults apparently control the distribution of mod ern drainage systems, suggesting that they may have been active recently recently. As the younger strike | slip faults are subparallel to the older folds and thrusts, we have not been able to determine the magnitude of left | slip on these faults. We interpret the termination of contractional deformation and the subsequent replacement by strike | slip faulting as a result of both clockwise rotation of the region and westward propagation of strike | slip deformation in eastern Tibet.