It is under the administration of Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

Tongde County is made up of 2 towns and 3 townships: Tongde County has an alpine subarctic climate (Köppen Dwc), with long, very cold and dry winters, and short, rainy, mild summers.

Despite frequent rain during summer, when a majority of days sees rain, no month has less than 50% of possible sunshine; with monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 51% in June to 81% in November, the county seat receives 2,806 hours of bright sunshine annually.

The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from −13.0 °C (8.6 °F) in January to 11.7 °C (53.1 °F) in July, while the annual mean is 0.57 °C (33.0 °F).

Over 70% of the annual precipitation of 426 mm (16.8 in) is delivered from June to September.