As of the 2010 census, 1,230,042 of them lived in the built-up (or metro) area made of two urban districts, Pingqiao and Shihe.

The city is located in the southernmost part of Henan Province on the south bank of the Huai River and in the middle of the Dabie Mountains area.

It borders the cities Zhumadian to the north and Nanyang to the northwest, and the provinces of Anhui and Hubei to the east and south respectively.

The region where Xinyang is located is considered a subtropical area and the Dabie mountainous terrain is mainly to the north, south, and east of the city.

[10] Its built up area is home to 1,230,042 inhabitants spread out on 2 urban districts and 3,665.9 square kilometres (1,415.4 sq mi).