The Ailaoshan metallogenic belt has undergone the subduction and closure of the Proto-, Paleo-, and Neo-Tethyan Oceans as well as continental collisions. It hosts a series of large- to medium-sized gold deposits, which serves as a natural laboratory for studying multi-stage mineralization processes. The superlarge Daping gold deposit at the southern margin of this belt has been conventionally considered to form during the Late Eocene. However, its ore-hosting rocks are Neoproterozoic diorites, which has sparked controversy over its metallogenic age and hindered further research on ore genesis and mineral exploration. This study employed optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) to identify and conduct in-situ dating of hydrothermal apatite. Three mineralization stages are identified: (1) an early stage of gray-white quartz with minor pyrite ± magnetite veins; (2) a main stage of smoky-gray quartz with abundant sulfide veins; and (3) a late stage of quartz-carbonate veins. Within the early-stage and main-stage quartz-sulfide veins, two types of apatite are observed: one filling fractures in pyrite, and the other coexisting with magnetite or monazite. These apatite grains are coarse (100~500 μm) and commonly exhibit metasomatic textures. They display high Th/U ratios and total rare earth element (REE) contents (ΣREE=2830.58×10??–4315.61×10??), with light REE enrichment, heavy REE depletion, and pronounced positive Ce anomalies (δCe = 1.19–1.51), all indicative of a hydrothermal origin. In-situ LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of 12 hydrothermal apatite grains yields a lower intercept age of 761±60 Ma (MSWD=0.76) on the Tera-Wasserburg concordia diagram. Combined with previous age data from the Daping deposit and surrounding mineralized diorites (766–773 Ma) as well as quartz fluid inclusion ??Ar-3?Ar ages (765.5±7.0 Ma), the Daping gold deposit was inferred to be formed during the Neoproterozoic. These findings provide crucial theoretical insights and exploration guidance for regional gold prospecting in the Ailaoshan metallogenic belt.