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Precise timing of granitoids and constraints of their magma sources are critical to understanding the subduction–collision tectonic evolution of the Altun orogenic belt (AOB), a vital part of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau in northwestern China. We provide in-situ zircon U–Pb age, Hf isotopic composition and whole-rock geochemistry of the Yusupualeke granitic pluton in the South Altun orogenic belt (SAOB), an integral unit of the AOB, to determine the tectono-magmatic evolution of the SAOB at early Palaeozoic. The Yusupualeke granitic pluton comprises the medium-coarse grained porphyritic monzogranite and medium-fine grained granodiorite. The monzogranite sample yielded a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 476.8 ± 3.6 Ma (MSWD = 0.59), while the granodiorite yielded a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 453.2 ± 4.7 Ma (MSWD = 0.013). Zircon U–Pb ages suggest that the subduction–collision process of the SAOB remained from the middle stage of the early Palaeozoic to the end. Both of the studied granitoids belong to metaluminous to weakly peraluminous series and show typical I-type granite characteristics with depletions in Ba, Nb, Sr, P, and Ti, and enrichments in light rare earth elements (LREEs), Rb, Th, K, and slightly negative Eu anomalies. Based on the geochronological data and regional geological background, we believe that the porphyritic monzogranites were formed during the northward subduction process of the South Altun ocean (SAO), while the granodiorites were formed during the tectonic regime transition stage. Besides, combing the previous research achievements with our newly obtained data, we put forward a new division and geodynamic model of the early Palaeozoic tectono-magmatic evolution for the South Altun orogenic belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]