Alpine cold desert broadly distributed in the high-altitude of mountain area, account for about 20%-30% of area in Tibet Plateau and Tian Mountain regions. It is an important hydrological functional area, owing to precipitation highly, infiltration rapidly and the high runoff coefficient. It is also the ecological fragile region, due to the high altitude, low air temperature, steep terrain and the sparse vegetation. Moreover, the sparse vegetation and the cold-adapted microorganism in the alpine cold desert is the important signal to climatic change. However, the relevant research on alpine cold desert is rare. Furthermore, human activity impact on alpine cold desert little than lower altitude area, therefore, it is suitable for us to monitor the climatic change effect in the high mountain region. In this paper, the authors summarize the importance of alpine cold desert for cryospheric hydrology, ecology and climate in China and its relevant research progress, and suggest that the alpine cold desert should be a special research area in cryospheric sciences.