98 yeast strains were isolated from soil samples collected from 10 counties in the east part of Qinghai Province. These strains were identified mainly based on the 26S rDNA D1/D2 domain sequence analysis and morphological and physiological characterization. Diversity and distribution of the yeast species in the soil samples were analysed. Among them, 13 species belonging to 10 genera were recognized (two strains might represent two new species). The dominant species identified were Galactomyces geotrichum and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa.