Nanping City, a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Fujian Province and a Type I small city, lies between longitude 117°00′–119°25′ east and latitude 26°30′–28°20′ north in northern Fujian Province, southeast of the northern section of the Wuyi Mountains, at the junction of Fujian, Zhejiang, and Jiangxi provinces. Commonly known as "Northern Fujian," it borders Quzhou and Lishui in Zhejiang Province to the northeast, Fuzhou and Shangrao in Jiangxi Province to the northwest, Fuzhou and Ningde in the southeast, and Sanming in the southwest. With a total area of 26,300 square kilometers, it is the largest prefecture-level city in Fujian Province. As of June 2023, it governs two urban districts, five counties, and administers three county-level cities. By the end of 2023, its permanent population was 2.63 million.
Nanping City, once part of the Baiyue people in the pre-Qin period, was established as a prefecture-level city in September 1994, after the Nanping District was abolished. It is one of the earliest developed regions in southern China, boasting over 4,000 years of history. It is one of the birthplaces of Fujian culture. The name "Fujian" is derived from the first character of the ancient Jianzhou (present-day Jian'ou). It is the birthplace of Minyue culture, Zhuzi culture, Wuyi tea ceremony culture, Monkey King culture, and Zhang Sanfeng Tai Chi culture. The renowned Neo-Confucianist Zhu Xi spent fifty years studying zither and calligraphy in Nanping, calling it the "Zou and Lu of Fujian" and the "Cave of Southern Dao."
Nanping City is a national ecological demonstration zone and a national green development demonstration zone. It is the source of the Minjiang River, an ecological barrier for Fujian, and one of the best ecological environments on Earth at its latitude. The region boasts towering peaks, widespread low mountains, and interspersed river valleys and small basins, embodying the typical "eight mountains, one river, and one field" characteristic of southern China. The region boasts over 150 tourist attractions, including Wuyishan, one of only four "World Natural and Cultural Heritage Sites" in China. The region is served by the Hefu High-Speed Railway, Yingxia Railway, Waifu Railway, Hengnan Railway, Quning Railway, National Highways 205 and 316, as well as Wuyishan Airport and the Minjiang River mainstream.