The continental collision between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate has formed the Himalayas and the large uplifted area of the Tibetan Plateau . The northeastern part of Tibet is affected by the eastward lateral spreading of the Tibetan Plateau . This spreading is accommodated by a series of sinistral ( left-lateral ) strike-slip faults , including the Altyn Tagh , Haiuyan , Kunlun and Xianshuihe faults , combined with thrusting on the Longmenshan fault . The earthquake ruptured the complex thrust fault system in the Qilian Mountains transpressional zone , formed at a restraining bend on the Haiyuan fault . Another segment of the Haiyuan fault was responsible for the 1920 Haiyuan earthquake
1920 Haiyuan earthquake
1920 Haiyuan earthquake
1927 Gulang earthquake