It is 864 kilometres (537 mi) long and rises in Guizhou province in the Miao Mountains near Duyun and is navigable.

After its merger with the Wu River, the Yuan flows in a northeasterly direction, hugging the western side of the Xuefeng Mountains of Hunan.

Ultimately, the Yuan flows into the Dongting Lake at Changde and from there into the Yangtze River.

The Yuan serves as a major waterway for western Hunan and eastern Guizhou.

The Yuan is navigable for large vessels up to Changde, whereas smaller boats can make it to Taoyuan.