Haloxylon ammodendron community is one of the dominant vegetation types in the arid region of northwest China, which has critical ecological functions such as windproof sand fixation and biodiversity protection. The arid region of the northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is also an important distribution area of H. ammodendron community, while the driving mechanism of the spatial pattern of H. ammodendron community characteristics in this region has not been paid enough attention. 31 sampling sites were set in H. ammodendron Nature Reserve of Qaidam Basin and the community characteristics of H. ammodendron were investigated in August, 2023. Combined with climate factors, the driving forces of the spatial pattern of H. ammodendron community were analyzed. The results showed that only 27 species were found in H. ammodendron community of the arid region of the northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, belonging to 21 Genera and 8 Families. 51%, 70%, and 40% of these species were shrub and subshrub types, strong xerophyte and xerophyte types, and Gobi-Mongolia types, respectively. The H. ammodendron community had large variations in height and cover, low plant diversity, and an underdeveloped herb layer. The quantitative characteristics of H. ammodendron community had positive correlations with an increase in longitude gradient (P < 0.05). The number of young H. ammodendron populations significantly increased, while the number of mature H. ammodendron populations showed the opposite pattern with the increase in longitude or the decrease in latitude. The increase in precipitation was the one of driving forces to form these spatial patterns of community characteristics. This study provides basic data for the protection of H. ammodendron community in the arid region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and provides scientific guidance for regional desertification and reasonable desertification control.