Qujing is a prefecture-level city located in eastern Yunnan province, China. It serves as a geographical border point between Guizhou province to the north and east, and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to the south. Due to its location, it was historically referred to as the "Key between Yunnan and Guizhou" (滇黔锁钥) and the "Throat of Yunnan" (云南咽喉).
The city is a component of the Central Yunnan Metropolitan Region plan for 2016–49. As of late 2024, Qujing has a resident population of approximately 5.634 million people. Its urban core includes the Qilin, Zhanyi, and Malong districts. Under the 11th National Five-Year Plan, the government aimed to develop the city into the "big city at the origin of the Pearl River," with goals to expand its built-up area beyond 100 km2 and establish it as the second-largest urban population center in Yunnan after Kunming.