It borders the prefecture-level city of Suqian to the southwest and the Yellow Sea to the east.

The area of present-day Guanyun County was a major salt-making site for the Qing dynasty.

The Guan River [zh] flows through the county eastwards into the East China Sea.

A number of whales from the sea have been sighted swimming back into the river's waterway as deep as 10 km (6.2 mi) in recent years, prompting the formation of tough government regulations meant to minimize the impact of pollution on the county's water and environment.

Guanyun is situated in the north of Jiangsu Plain and has an oceanic monsoon climate, with distinct four seasons, like most of its neighbors.

Lianyungang Huaguoshan International Airport is located in Guanyun County and will open on December 2, 2021.

Guanyun has instituted a compulsory primary education system, and multiple secondary schools.