Longnan is located in the junction where the Qinba Mountain Area, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and the Loess Plateau meet. It has always been known as the "Key to the Qinling Mountains and Longshan, and the throat of Ba Shu". Longnan city is the only area in Gansu province that belongs to the Yangtze River system and has a subtropical climate; therefore, the city is also referred to as an "Area South of The Yangtze River in Gansu".

Longnan, with a total area of 27,900 km2 , has jurisdiction over eight counties and one district. At the end of 2019, the resident population was 2,643,100. It is the place where Qin culture arose. The Qinxi Crypt Cemetery – the first cemetery of the Qin Dynasty -- is located in Dabaozi Mountain of Li county. On the one hand Longnan city is rich in mineral resources. In particular, the Pb-Zn ore belt in Xicheng area is China’s second largest ore body, and the antimony resources are the third largest ore body in China while the Yangshan Gold Mine of Wen county is one of the country’s largest gold mines. On the other hand, it has abundant water resources and a wide variety of biological resources. There are nationally protected plants such as metasequoia and taxus, and more than 20 rare animals such as giant pandas and golden monkeys. In addition, there are two national nature reserves which are Baishuijiang National Nature Reserve and Gansu Yuhe National Nature Reserve; and one provincial nature reserve, the Jianshan Giant Panda Nature Reserve of Wen county. Longnan city also offers the three national forest parks of Heaven Lake of Wen County, Guanegou National Forest Park of Tanchang County, and Jifeng Mountains of Cheng County and two national wetland parks -- Huanglingou National Wetland Park in Wen County and Meiyuanhe National Wetland Park in Kang County. Longnan City is one of the main producing areas for traditional Chinese medicine and olives in China, and is known as the "natural Chinese medical herbs depot". Some of its famous herbs, such as "Hedysarum polybotrys Hand of Micang", "Codonopsis pilosula of Wen county", "angelica sinensis of Tanchang county", and "rheum officinale of Quanshui rhubarb" rank first in China because of their superior quality and abundant quantity.

There are many famous historical and cultural relics here, such as the Du Fu Thatched Cottage in Cheng county, the pre-Qin cultural site in Li county,and the ancient battlefield of The Three Kingdoms in Qishan.

The mask dance "Chi Ge Zhou" is performed by Baima people in Tielou township, Wen county. The whole scene is simple and magnificent, solemn and enthusiastic; a perfect entertainment in a mysterious atmosphere. And now "Chi Ge Zhou" has been selected for the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage protection list.