Location: situated in north latitude 28′52″- 29′48″; and east longitude 109′40″ - 111′20″ in the northwest part of Hunan province.

Neighboring Areas: Jiangxi, Guangdong, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Hubei provinces; Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

Physical Features: located between the apophysis of Yungui Altiplano and the lower area of Dongting Lake, densely covered by hills and waters

Population: 1.53 million
Urban Population: 0.44 million
Area: 9,563 sq km

Nationalities: Han, Tujia and Bai

Climatic Features: belongs to the central subtropical damp monsoon climate; warm and full of rainfalls and sunlight

Average Temperature: 6.8C; average air temperature 5.1C in January and 28.0C in July

Mountains: Mt. Wulinshan

Rivers: Maoyan River

Products: rice, cotton, oil and tea
Specialties: hornbeam, Chinese dove tree

Local Highlights: traditional Tujia architectures and Tujia customs