Qilian Shan, the youngest mountain range formed by the northward expansion of the Tibetan Plateau, plays a crucial role in understanding the expansion processes, uplift mechanisms, and evolution of orogenic belts. Drainage system evolution responds rapidly to mountain uplift, making the study of drainage development and evolution a critical approach for investigating the uplift and expansion of Qilian Shan. Based on chronological and provenance studies of geomorphic records, including erosion surfaces, river terraces, wind gaps and ancient river channels, and Cenozoic sedimentary strata, the current research on drainage system evolution in the Qilian Shan has yielded the following findings and insights: The formation and evolution of the upper reaches of the Yellow River in the eastern Qilian Shan involve a process of drainage reorganization driven by tectonic uplift or climate change, characterized by headward erosion and river capture; Research on river terraces in the Shiyang River and Heihe River basins of the northern Qilian Shan, as well as in the Lanzhou Basin of the eastern Qilian Shan, indicates climate change, and the tectonic uplift independently govern the timing (transitions between glacial and interglacial periods, and interglacial periods) and extent of river incision. Since the Holocene, terrace formation has been primarily driven by climate change, with river incision occurred during warm and humid periods; River terraces reliably record the evolution processes of major tributaries of the Yellow River in the eastern Qilian Shan, including the Huangshui River (flow reversal) and the Datong River (river capture); Study of chronology, provenance, and paleohydrology of Cenozoic sedimentary strata in the Yumu Shan of the northern Qilian Shan, as well as the Wulan and Chacha basins of the southern Qilian Shan, has reliably reconstructed the regional drainage evolution history, highlighting the significant potential of sedimentary strata for reconstructing reliable and detailed record of drainage evolution. However, numerous critical issues remain unresolved and require further investigations. Future research should prioritize and emphasize in-depth studies on geomorphic surface and sediment dating, integration of multi-source methods for provenance analysis, continuous exploration of geomorphic features, and advancements in numerical simulations and simulation modeling studies.