Evolution of Jilantai Salt Lake in the last 13.8 ka was reconstructed based on the analysis of evaporate minerals, carbonate minerals and detrital minerals from the core JLT-2010. The lake water was fresh or slightly salty between 13.8 and 11.7 cal ka BP. The lake began to shrink between 11.7 and 10.2 cal ka BP, and then it entered into the lagoon stage. Sulfate deposition occurred in Jilantai Salt Lake between 10.2 and 5.5 cal ka BP, meanwhile, from 9.0 to 8.2 cal ka BP there existed a significant desalination process. The lake reached full chloride deposition stage between 3.7 and 2.0 cal ka BP, and a short and obvious desalt period occurred between 2.0 and 1.7 cal ka BP. Overall, evaporate minerals appeared just at the beginning of the Holocene when temperature increased relative to the late glacial. As the regional arid climate continually affecting the area, Jilantai Salt Lake gradually shrank and salinized.