Located on the southern part of Hebei Province, 420km from Beijing, Handan is bordered with Taihang Mountain on the west while connected with Huabei Plain in the east. Standing in the joining point of Shanxi, Shandong, Henan and Hebei Provinces, it is 450 km away from Beijing, and 150 km away from Shijiazhuang. The city proper accounts for 457 sq.km among the total area of 12,062 sq.km. Total population is 8.571 million. 

The western part is mainly hilly while the eastern part is part of Huabei Plain with the highest point of 1899 meters above sea level.

Handan is a famous historical and cultural city. It was the capital of the State of Zhao, one of the strong seven states during Warring State Period, and she was also one of the five metropolitans in Han Dynasty, enjoying same distinguished fame with Xian, Luoyang, Zibo and Chengdu. Iron metallurgy, handicrafts and commerce kept booming for over 500 years in Handan. Handan is also where 1,000 or so Chinese idioms were originated. Qin Shihuang was born here, many moving stories as learn to walk like Handier, Drilling soldiers archery on horse back with Hunnish costume, Return jade intact to Shako, Huang Liang Meimeng (pipe dream, story about a poor scholar who dreamt that he had become an official, but awoke to find his humble pot of millet still cooking on the fire) etc, took place here. The State Council approved Handan as the famous cultural and historical city in 1994. 

Handan has a lot to offer its visitors. These include Congtai Terrace in Wuling, capital of Zhao during the Warring States Period; ruins of the imperial city of the state of Zhao; grottoes at Xiangtang Mountain; the palace of Nuwa, the legendary creator-goddess, and where she patched up the sky with stone blocks; and ruins of the Cizhou Porcelain Kilns of the Song. Yongnian County is where the Yang and Wu schools of taiji boxing rose, and a cultural center in association with Taiji boxing. Yongnian International Taiji Boxers' Gathering is a popular event for fans from around the world to compete and swap experience.

The north continental monsoon climate brings distinctive divisions of four seasons to Handan city area. Annual temperature averages in 14.1 degree Centigrade, frost-free period lasts 235 days and annul rainfall is 627mm.