Tacheng is located in the Dzungarian Basin, some 10 km (6.2 mi) from the Chinese border with Kazakhstan.

[3] Chuguchak suffered harshly in 1865 during the fighting between the Qing forces and the Dungan and Hui rebels.

The checkpoint on the Kazakh side of the border is also known as Bakhty and is located 60 km (37 mi) from Makanchi in East Kazakhstan Province.

[7] The crossing re-opened on 20 October 1990, and was deemed a "first-class port of entry" (一类口岸) on 14 March 1994.

Tacheng is divided into 3 subdistricts, 2 towns, 3 townships, and 1 ethnic township, Tacheng has a typical Xinjiang cool semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) that is almost moist enough to be a hot summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa), as being on the west side of the Altay Mountains the region receives more winter snowfall than most of Xinjiang.