<p>The <em>Kobresia</em> meadow in the Tibetan plateau is the world's largest and most unique pastoral alpine ecosystem, forming dense and closed ‘lawns’ mainly dominated by <em>Kobresia</em> species. Soil cracking induced by overstocking is an important feature of degraded alpine <em>Kobresia</em> meadows: it cuts the closed, intact rangeland and alters microtopography. However, soil cracks in alpine grasslands of the Tibetan plateau have rarely been reported and the importance of cracking in relation to livestock overgrazing for the degradation and collapse of alpine rangelands has not been taken seriously. In this Perspectives article, we explain the mechanisms of soil crack formation in <em>Kobresia</em> meadows under overgrazing; the ways in which the soil cracks affect the dynamics of hydrological processes and trigger the erosion of <em>Kobresia</em> turfs; and finally the effects on plant community composition and distribution. We outline the importance of recognizing soil cracks as visual indicators and early warning signs of degradation in order to recover alpine <em>Kobresia</em> meadows by reducing stocking rate. The purpose of this article is to emphasize that researchers and managers of alpine rangelands should pay more attention to crack phenomena in an effort to promote sustainable practices and restoration in <em>Kobresia</em> meadow-livestock systems.</p>