<p>Although many geothermal resources have been explored in China, only a few have been developed. Due to geographical constraints, the exploration efforts have primarily focused on urban peripheral areas in recent years. However, these areas often contain significant electromagnetic interference and physical obstacles, which restrict the application of electromagnetic geophysical methods in geothermal prospecting. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of the microtremor survey method (MSM) for exploring intermediate-to-deep geothermal resources in an urban area of Xining City, Qinghai Province. MSM is immune to electromagnetic interference, environmentally friendly, highly efficient, and has been successfully applied in Xining City. Data were acquired using straight-line arrays, and dispersion curves were extracted using the spatial auto correlation (SPAC) method. The inversion results of these dispersion curves were thoroughly analyzed. Additionally, we incorporated logging and drilling data to assess the performance of MSM in practical geothermal exploration. As a result, the main geological features associated with geothermal resources in the study area were identified. Drilling at the target location confirmed the presence of a potential geothermal resource, with a bottom-hole temperature of 69 °C, successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of the MSM for exploring intermediate-to-deep geothermal resources in the urban periphery.</p>