Qinghai vole is medium in size, with small ears, short tail and strong claws. The snout is short and the ears are small and rounded, not as long as the hind feet. The tail length is about 1/4 of the body length. The limbs are stubby and the claws are stronger, suitable for digging activities.

Qinghai voles have long and soft back hair. Nose dark brown. The dorsal hair is dark brown-gray, the base of the hair is gray-black, the ends of the hair are brown-yellow, and there are many long black hairs mixed with it. The ventral surface is gray-yellow, the base of the hair is gray-black, and the end of the hair is light yellow or khaki. The posterior base of the ear shell has a very obvious brownish-yellow spot. The tail is obviously two-colored, the upper coat color is the same as the back of the body, the lower part is sandy yellow, and the end has a black-brown hair bundle. The color of the front and rear feet is the same as the back or slightly darker, and the soles and toes (finger) are obviously black. Claws black or dark brown.

Qinghai vole has a thicker skull. The maxilla protrudes from the front of the nasal bone, and the front of the nasal bone is not very enlarged. The interorbital part was significantly narrowed, and the left and right supraorbital ridges were close to each other. The zygomatic arch is thicker. The palatine foramen is obvious, relatively thick, and there is a small bone bridge on the posterior border of the palatine bone connected with the left and right pterygoid processes.