Xining is the capital and most populous city of Qinghai province in western China. It holds the distinction of being the largest city located on the Tibetan Plateau. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 2,467,965 inhabitants, with nearly 2 million residing within its five urban districts.
The city is situated in the Huangshui River Valley, which is also known as Tsongkha. Due to its high altitude, Xining features a cool climate that falls on the borderline between cool semi-arid and dry winter humid continental zones.