Rare earth element(REE) concentration and distribution patterns and vertical distribution of total REE(ΣREE) in sediments from Qinghai Lake are presented in this paper. In combination with total organic carbon (TOC) and Grain Size parameters, the relationship between ΣREE and the climate and environment has been discussed. The result shows that the ΣREE values of the sediments from Qinghai Lake vary over a range of 16.262-89.221mg/kg, with an average of 63.001mg/kg. Indicating that the semi-arid environment was dominant with much weaker chemical weathering. The sediments from Qinghai Lake have very similar ΣREE distribution patterns, which are moderately rich in light rare earth element (LREE), with negative slopes and unclear Ce and Eu anomaly. ΣREE contents have good relationships with TOC and Grain Size. During warmer and wetter climatic episodes, the values of ΣREE in sediments are higher; on the contrary, during colder and drier climatic episodes, the values of ΣREE are lower. The further study has reconstructed the paleoclimate evolution of Qinghai Lake since 8.5kaBP, which includes four main climatic and environmental changes that were warm-moist, cool-dry, warm-moist and cold-dry during late Holocene. Finally, we have concluded that ΣREE in sediments of Qinghai Lake is an effective indicator to reconstruct the paleoclimatic variation in the high-cold semi-arid areas because of its sensitivity to the climatic changes.