It borders Gansu to the east, Qinghai to the southeast and the Tibet Autonomous Region to the south.

It is the largest prefecture-level division nationally, with an area of 471,480 km2 (182,040 sq mi), which is even larger than its neighboring province of Gansu.

In a 2017 announcement from officials in Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, it was proclaimed that "there is a severe threat from international terrorism, and cars have been used as a key means of transport for terrorists as well as constantly serving as weapons.

[5] When Bayingolin was established in 1954, Mongols comprised 35 per cent of the prefecture's population.

[6] Due to development needs and migration, the Han population increased from 1,682 in the region of Bayingolin in 1947 to over 660,000 in 2004.