Linxia Prefecture is located in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, with Dingxi City to the east, Qinghai Province to the west, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture to the south, and Lanzhou City to the north, making it an important distribution center for commodities in southwestern Gansu as well as a hub for Sino-Tibetan trade.
Most of Linxia Prefecture has a temperate semi-arid climate, with the southwestern mountainous areas being cold and cloudy, the northeastern part being arid, and the river valleys and plains being mild. There is no severe cold in winter and no scorching heat in summer, with four distinct seasons. The average annual temperature of 6.3 ℃, the highest temperature of 32.5 ℃, the lowest temperature of minus 27.8 ℃; average annual rainfall of 537 mm, evaporation of 1198 to 1745 mm; average annual sunshine hours of 2572.3 hours; frost-free period of 137 days.