Here we present data collected from the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau that describes the variation of leaf functional traits across 32 plant species and could be used to investigate plant community functioning and predict the impact of climate change on biogeochemical cycles. The sampling area is located in Huangshui River Valley, in the southeast of Qinghai Province, China (36° 19′ to 36° 53′ N, 100° 59′ to 102° 48′ E). The area contains an alpine meadow typical of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.

This dataset includes field survey data on the functional properties of compound leaves from herbaceous species in the Huangshui River basin of Qinghai Province, China, at an altitude of 1800 m to 4000 m in the summer of 2021. Data were collected from 326 plots, including 646 data points of compound leaf plants, spanning 32 compound leaf plant species belonging to 14 genera and four families. The dataset includes information about the leaflet trait variation (i.e., leaflet area, leaflet dry mass, specific leaflet area, and leaflet nitrogen content per unit dry mass) and linear elements' biomass and nitrogen content per unit dry mass (i.e., both petiole and rachis) of 646 compound leaves. This dataset can be used to analyze the evolution of leaf traits and the basic functioning of ecosystems. Moreover, the dataset provides an important basis for studying the species distribution and protection of biodiversity of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and evaluating ecosystem services. These data also support the high-quality development of the Yellow River basin and have empirical and practical value for alpine biodiversity protection and ecosystem management.