There are many salt lakes in the Qaidam Basin, and topsoil salinization and salinization are well developed. A large amount of salt dust produced by wind erosion of these saline topsoil will harm the ecological environment and human health of the basin. Therefore, the authors systematically collected 129 different types of topsoil samples in the middle east of Qaidam Basin, and analyzed the composition and distribution characteristics of salt minerals. The result shows that the main salt minerals in the topsoil include halite, gypsum and a small amount of thenardite; In the middle east of the basin, the high-value area of salt content is concentrated in the vicinity of Yiliping Salt Lake, East-West Ginair Lake in the east of Gas Hure Lake and the area of the oasis front in central Golmud-Nuomuhong area; the salt content of different topsoil in the basin is in order of playa, Yardang, saline meadow, Gobi desert and desert. The comprehensive analysis shows that Yardang and playa are probably the main source areas of salt dust storm, and other types of topsoil contribute less; the characteristics and distribution of salt in topsoil may be influenced by many factors, such as structure, salt lake evolution, climate and hydrology. The results of this study can provide important scientific basis for the formation mechanism of salt dust storm and disaster prevention in Qaidam Basin.