Nagqu lis in the northern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region at longitude 84o55 'E and latitude 29o55 '-36o30 'N. It neighbors qamdo in the east, Ngari in the west, Lhasa, Nyingchi and Xigaze in the south, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Qinghai Province in the north. It is embraced by the Tanggula, Nyainqentanglha and kangdese Mountains, and the snow-capped Dargo Mountain in the west and the Burgyi Mountain in the east, guarding the treasure land like two ferocious lions.

Covering an area of some 400,000 square kilometers, Nagqu is generally referred to as Changtang; the area is high in the west and lies at an elevation of over 4,500 meters and low in the east. The vast region of the central west is basically flat but dotted with hills and numerous lakes, and is crisscrossed by rivers. There are high mountains surrounding the river valleys in the east, which is the farming region of northern Tibet. This area lies at an elevation of from 3,500 to 4,500 meters and also has forest resources and bush pasture, and a climate that is more equitable than that in the central west.

Nagqu falls within the sub-frigid zone and experiences extreme cold, a scarcity of oxygen, dry air and storms. There are no absolutely frost-free periods. Nagqu has an annual average temperature of -0.9oC to -3.3oC, an annual relative humidity of 48-51 percent, an annual precipitation of 380mm, and he sun shines for 2,852.6-2,881.7 hours each year. From November to March the air is dry, the temperature low and the area is exposed to violent sandstorm. From May to September, Nagqu is warm and enjoys good weather. The annual growing season lasts for 100 days, and during this period the area receives 80 percent of its annual precipitation. At this time the grasslands are emerald and grazed by flocks of sheep.

Nagqu Prefectural Administration is located in Nagqu Town which lies at longitude 92o3 'E and latitude 31o27 'N. Nagqu Town is a political, economic, cultural and trading center as well as a transport hub of the Tibet Autonomous Region. It is also the collection and reshipment centre for the region's animal products, mineral ores, and agricultural and forestry products. Bisected by the Xining-Lhasa, Nagqu-Qamdo and Amdo-Shiquanhe Highways, Nagqu Town is the transport hub for northern Tibetan contacts with other parts of the region and other parts of China. All counties (districts) and townships within Nagqu Prefecture are accessible by highways.

Nagqu Prefecture had a population of 330,286, including 326,920 Tibetans (98.98 percent), 3,258 people of the Han ethnic group and 108 of other ethnic groups. It exercises jurisdiction over 10 counties and the Shuanghu Special Administrative Zone, which consist of 145 townships, two towns and two neighborhood committees. The 10 counties inclued Nagqu, Amdo, Nyainrong, Biru, Jiali, Baqen, Sog, Pangkog, Xainza and Nyima.