Golmud is isolated at approximately 2,800 meters altitude in the central southern area of the desert-like Qaidam Basin, between the Kunlun Mountains and the Qarhan Salt Lake. Around the city center, there are a total of 20 salt lakes of various sizes. The nearest major cities are Lhasa (1,165 km away), Xining (781 km), and Dunhuang (524 km).
Golmud is often referred to as one of the largest cities in the world due to its area, which is roughly equivalent to the size of Greece. However, only about 270,000 people live in the city, with approximately 90% residing in the city center.
Golmud has great potential for tourism development. Surrounding the city are unique natural landscapes such as the source of the Yangtze River, the Kunlun Mountains, the desert forest, and much more. The Tanggula Mountains are a wildlife reserve.
