Jining is a prefecture-level city situated in southwestern Shandong province, China. It shares borders with several regions, including Heze to the southwest, Zaozhuang to the southeast, and Tai'an to the northeast. The city also serves as a border point for the provinces of Henan to the northwest and Jiangsu to the south.
The city is located directly to the north of Lake Nanyang. It holds geographical significance as the northernmost city reachable by navigation on the Grand Canal, establishing it as an important inland port.