Ulaan Chab city has an area of 54,473.6 square kilometres (21,032.4 sq mi).

It borders Hohhot to the west, Mongolia to the north, Xilin Gol League to the northeast, Hebei to the east and Shanxi to the south.

Ulaan Chab has eleven administrative divisions: one district, one county-level city, five counties and four banners: Ulanqab features a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk), marked by long, cold and very dry winters, warm, somewhat humid summers, and strong winds, especially in spring.

In the 2000 census, there were 2,284,414 inhabitants: Ulanqab's transportation network is well-developed, connected by several railways and highways.

Major inter-provincial roads include the G6 Beijing–Lhasa Expressway (京藏高速), China National Highway 110 (Beijing to Yinchuan, Ningxia) and 208 (Erlianhot, Inner Mongolia to Changzhi, Shanxi).