Hulunbuir is named after Hulun Lake and Beier Lake. Hulun and Beier in Mongolian mean otter and male otter respectively. It is located in the northeast of Inner Mongolia, with a total area of 253,000 square kilometers, accounting for 21.4% of the area of Inner Mongolia. The natural grassland covers an area of 149 million mu(10 million hectares). The forest coverage rate reached 51.4%, and the forest stock volume was 1.2 billion cubic meters. The average annual water resources of the city is 31.619 billion cubic meters, including 29.819 billion cubic meters of surface water resources and 1.8 billion cubic meters of groundwater resources. 

Hulunbuir has a long cultural history. It is an important birthplace of hunting and nomadic nationalities in the north of China, where many other nationalities as Xianbei, Qidan, Jurchen once lived in. The three autonomous banners in Inner Mongolia are all in Hulunbuir, and there are 14 of the 18 ethnic townships (Sumu) in Inner Mongolia.

Hulunbuir is rich in tourism resources, with forests, grasslands, wetlands, lakes and rivers, forming the largest and most complete ecosystem in China at present. It is an Excellent Tourism City in China, the only Key Development Area of Grassland Tourism in China, and a National Tourism Reform and Innovation Pilot Area.

Hulunbuir now governs 14 banners, cities (county-level) and districts. Two districts: Hailar District and Jalainur District; 5 cities: Manzhouli, Zhalantun, Yakeshi, Genhe and Erguna; Seven banners: Arun Banner, Morin Dawa Daur Autonomous Banner, Oroqen Autonomous Banner, Ewenki Autonomous Banner, New Barag Left Banner, New Barag Right Banner, and Old Barag Banner. 68 towns, 19 townships (including 13 ethnic townships), 19 sumu (including 1 ethnic sumu) and 36 sub-district offices. Hulunbeier Municipal People's Government is located in Hailar District.