<p>Salt lakes in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau (QXP) are significant in the contexts of environmental reconstruction and environmental effects of plateau uplift. The climatic and tectonic implications of the salt lake in the Qaidam Basin (QB) have been recently explored. However, the coupling response characteristics of the Kunteyi Salt Lake (KSL) to climate and tectonic activity since the late Middle Pleistocene remain under-explored. The authors applied ²³⁰Th dating to 11 samples of the salt-bearing strata from the ZK3608 drilling core in the KSL, and the isotopic ratios of U and Th contained in primary halite were measured by MC-ICP-MS. The chemical composition of 36 primary halite was analyzed. Results indicated that the KSL significantly responded to climate fluctuations of the MIS7 and MIS6, and even played a positive role in resolving sub-stages. However, its response to the climate fluctuations of MIS5 remains limited. Additionally, during 170–180 ka, the KSL and even the northwestern part of the QB was reactivated, to respond to a strong east Asian Summer Monsoon (ASM). The findings confirm that the KSL was not completely separated from the ancient Qaidam Lake during MIS6. Additionally, the ASM might have penetrated deep into the hinterland of the QB during that period. The Gonghe Movement induced the further separation of the KSL from the ancient Qaidam Lake. Moreover, the uplifting process may also have an impact on the climate. The resulting changes in the evolutionary environment and the lack of supply are the key reasons for the drying up and disappearance of the KSL. Furthermore, the recharge of deep Ca-Cl brine may increase during the active tectonic period, which significantly impacts the evolution of salt lakes.</p>