Located in the northeast of Sichuan Province, at the southern foot of Micang Mountain, Pingchang County is a key county included in the national plan for poverty alleviation through development, an old revolutionary base area of the Sichuan-Shaanxi Soviet Area, and a provincial pilot area in the reform to reinforce counties by granting them more powers.

Pingchang covers an area of 2,229 square kilometers, including arable land of 623,200 mu (415 square kilometers), with a highest altitude of 1,338.8 meters (Jage Mountain in Zhenlong Town) and a lowest altitude of 268.3 meters (Huangmeixi, Yuanshi Township).

With jurisdiction over 28 towns, nine management committees, three subdistrict offices, and 393 village (neighborhood) committees (246 village committees and 147 neighborhood committees), it has a built-up area of 17.35 square kilometers and a total population of 1.08 million, including an agricultural population of 802,900 and a permanent population of 293,300.