Altay Prefecture, under the jurisdiction of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, is located in northern Xinjiang, bordering Russia, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. Its terrain is complex and diverse, primarily consisting of mountains, hills, plains, and deserts, with dry, hot summers and harsh winters. Its border stretches 1,197 kilometers, and its total area is 118,000 square kilometers. As of June 2023, the prefecture governs one county-level city and six counties，they are Altay City, Burqin County, Habahe County, Jimunai County, Fuhai County, Fuyun County, and Qinghe County. As of February 2024, the prefecture's population was 668,587.
Topography and landforms: The Altai region boasts a complex and diverse landscape, primarily divided into mountains, hills, plains, and deserts. The Altai Mountain ridgeline stretches for over 800 kilometers along the borders between China, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Mongolia. The Friendship Peak, located on the China-Mongolia border, boasts a peak elevation of 4,374 meters. All major rivers in the region originate in the Altai Mountains. The Saur Mountains, located in the western part of the region, run across the border between Jimunai County and Hoboksar Mongol Autonomous County. Its main peak, Mount Musdao, reaches an elevation of 3,835 meters. Hills are primarily found on the gentle slopes of the foothills and in the northeastern part of the Junggar Basin. These areas, where mineral deposits are readily accessible, are the region's primary mineralization areas. Plains are found in the Irtysh and Ulungur River valleys, as well as in the middle and lower reaches of other rivers. Deserts are found in Fuhai County, southern Fuyun County, and parts of Habahe, Burqin, and Jimunai Counties. The lowest elevation is 317 meters (in the Three Springs Depression in Fuyun County).