Abstract Using multi period fault-crossing leveling data from Minle in Gansu province to Menyuan in Qinhai province, crust vertical deformation is analyzed comparatively before the 1986 and 2016 Menyuan MS6.4 earthquakes. The results show that: 1) The seismogenic background before the two earthquakes differs. Before the 1986 Menyuan earthquake, Qilian Mountains rise relatively sharply in Minle basin and the regional compressive stress state is enhanced; however, before 2016 earthquake, Qilian Mountains rise relatively insignificantly and the regional compressive stress is relaxed. 2) The vertical deformation before the two Menyuan earthquakes also differs. Before the 1986 Menyuan earthquake, there is a rapid rise in the vicinity of the Lenglongling fault; while before 2016 earthquake, there is an unstable change between the rise and fall in the vicinity of the Lenglongling fault. 3) Surface uplift in the vicinity of seismic faults is observed before the two Menyuan MS6.4 earthquakes, which is consistent with the expansion model of seismic development.