Objective To investigate the community structure and population density of rodents in the Naqu grassland along Qinghai Tibet Railway, Tibet, China and to prevent the invasion of rodents and prevalence of plague along the Qinghai Tibet Railway. Methods The trap-day method was used to investigate the grassland of Naqu county, Anduo county, Bange county, Nierong county, Biru county, and Jiali county along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the river grassland of Anduo county, and the revetment and farmhouses along Qinghai Tibet Railway in Xiangmao village of Naqu county. Results A total of 1828 traps were recovered from the grassland, and 145 rodents, as well as 53 incomplete carcasses of rodents, were captured; the capture rate was 10.83%. Two species of rodents were captured in the grassland; another 2 species were captured in the river grassland, and 1 species was observed. In the grassland, plateau pika was the dominant species, followed by small numbers of Cricetulus longicaudatus, Phaiomys leucurus, and Marmota himalayana. One species of plateau pika, as well as an incomplete arcasses of rodent, was captured in the railway revetment. A total of 286 effective traps were placed in the farmhouses, and 20 rodents were captured. Mus musculus and P. leucurus were the main rodent pests in the farmhouses along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. In the grassland, the capture rate was the highest in Naqu county in July, reaching up to 30.32%. Conclusion Plateau pika is the dominant species in the Naqu grassland along Qinghai-Tibet Railway, and M. musculus is the dominant species in the farmhouses in Xiangmao village of Naqu county. No Rattus norvegicus and R. tanezumi are found in Naqu area. Surveillance should be enhanced to prevent the invasion of rodents along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway; measures should be taken to control rodents where their population density is high.