Linyi is a prefecture-level city located in the southern region of Shandong province, China. Its name translates literally to "close to the Yi River."
As of 2011, Linyi was the largest prefecture-level city in Shandong by both population and land area. It shares borders with several other cities, including Rizhao to the east, Weifang to the northeast, Zibo to the north, Tai'an to the northwest, Jining to the west, and Zaozhuang to the southwest. To its south, the city borders the province of Jiangsu.