Shannan Prefrecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region is located between 9014'E-9422'E and 2708"N-2947"N, at the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River south of the Kangdese Mountains-called the Nyainqentanglha Mountains on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It is bounded by the capital city Lhasa to the north, Xigaze to the west, Nyingchi to the east and India and Bhutan to the south. With an area of 73,500 square kilometers, Shannan occupies one-fifteenth of the total area of the Tibet Autonomous Region. With a boundary line of more than 600 kilometers, it has great strategic importance and serves as China's southwestern border area.

Shannan includes 12 counties, four of which are in boarder areas. They are Cona, Lhongzi, Nanggarze and Lhozha. There are 144 township-level towns, five neighborhood committees and 719 village committees. Of the 144 townships, there are 71 agricultural townships, 18 involved animal husbandry, and 57 that combine these two sectors.

Shannan's topography is typical of the southern Tibetan valley area, with a terrian gradually declining from west to east and at an average elevation of about 3,700 meters. The Yarlung Zangbo River, the mother river of Tibetan people, runs 424 kilometers from west to east through the seven counties of Nanggarze, Gonggar, Chahang, Nedong, Sangri, Qusum, Gyacha. In addition, Shannan has 41 rivers that run down high mountains and deep valleys all year round, with the river area of 38,000 square kilometers. There are 88 lakes in the prefecture, including Yamzhog Yumco, Namco, Chigu and Purmo Yumco, which are well known and, like green gemstones, are inlaid in the mountains of Shannan.