Naqu with a population of 300,000, in located the northern part of Tibet. 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, Naqu 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.