Abstract: The high-altitude geological hazards along the eastern Tibetan Plateau has a rising occurrence due to global climate change. Among these, high-altitude debris flows stand out due to their unique traits, including larger magnitudes, greater concealment, longer travel distances, and more devastating impacts compared to conventional debris flows. Based on recent global and domestic research, the conceptual definitions, classifications, disaster mechanisms, formation processes, and kinematic features of high-altitude debris flows in this area were comprehensively reviewed in this study. Four dominant disaster-triggering modes were identified, that is rainfall-induced high-altitude debris flows, glacier-ice-rock collapse debris flows, rainfall and snowmelt water-induced debris flows, and glacial lake outburst debris flows. And the authors conducted a study on the causes and potential risks by taking high-altitude debris flows in three regions as typical cases, revealing the huge risks, hazardness and destructiveness of the high-altitude debris flows in the eastern Tibetan Plateau. On this basis, three research prospects for high-altitude debris flow were proposed, and relevant theorits and methods that can be used for reference in the study of high-altitude debris flows in the eastern Tibetan Plateau were pointed out. Besides, the research ideas on equipment development, early warning systems establishment and dynamic evolution models for high-altitude debris flows were also discussed.