It covers 27,564 km2 (10,643 sq mi) and is bordered by Xiangxi to the northwest, Zhangjiajie and Changde to the north, Yiyang, Loudi and Shaoyang to the east, Guilin and Liuzhou of Guangxi to the south, and Qiandongnan and Tongren of Guizhou to the southwest.

The Dong, Miao, Tujia, Yao and Bai are major native minority groups.

Railroads is a major means of transportation in the region, and an airport was opened in 2004.

Huaihua is home to the Second Artillery Corps Base 55, which is charged with maintaining ICBMs.

A rail freight handling station, Huaihua West, was opened on 31 January 2021.