Abstract: The exploration in Qa idamBasin now has the characteristics of obvious stage and complexity after more than half century's development. Since the beginning of the Tenth Five-YearPlan period, QaidamBasin has focused itself on following the principle of òstrengthening the earlier stage exploration, emphasizing technology, giving prominence to main points, and adopting effectiv e measuresó, liberating exploration concept, a nd relying on advanced technologies and has obta ined notable results in its oil and gas exploration, especially in lithology reservoir explora tion in the western area. With the development of geologic cognition and fundamental work, hydrocarbon accumulation conditions, exploration potential, key target areas for next exploration have been more understood, and the target of the oilfield development has also been laid out. In a ddition, the general exploration concept of the 11th Five-Year Plan has been established, that is, insisting on the three principles of regional: preliminary exploration, risk explora tion, as well as exploration and development integration, emphasizing two key stones including fine clastic rock exploration and strategic breakthroughs in complicated areas, undertaking fine research and optimization of deployment. Oil and gas exploration will be carried out in three stages, i.e., fine exploration, strategic breakthrough, and active preparation. The targets of next exploration are presented as well. With the respect to petroleum exploration, the southwestern area, the foothillbelt of Altun, Mahai-Nanbaxian structural belt in the northern ma rgin, the northern marginal foothill belt, and Delingha depression are the targets of petroleum exploration. In respect of naturalgas exploration, the Sanhu biogas zone, the oil-type gas in the northwestern area, and the coal-type gas in the northern margin are the targets of natural gas exploration

Key words: Qaidam Basin, geologic cognition, exploration achievement, exploration principle, exploration target