Xining Population 2026

Xining has a population of 1,677,177, making it the #85 biggest city in 🇨🇳 China, located in Qinghai. Roughly 0.1% of China's population lives here. It is about 15× smaller than Shanghai, the country's biggest city.

Location of Xining (capital Beijing shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

1,677,177

Rank in China

#85

Coordinates

36.63°N, 101.76°E

~2,275 m elevation · Asia/Shanghai

Distance to capital (Beijing)

1,327 km

824 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Qinghai

City	Population	Rank in China
Nianbo	260,184	#383
Yushu	141,308	#510
Qiaotou	114,712	#602
Tongren	103,700	#655
Lushar	67,153	#972
Duoba	66,767	#979
Maqin County	59,900	#1120
Qabqa	46,907	#1325

Cities near Xining

Duoba66,767 people · ~20 km away
Lushar67,153 people · ~23 km away
Qiaotou114,712 people · ~35 km away
Nianbo260,184 people · ~61 km away
Quankou18,308 people · ~81 km away
Dongchuan17,982 people · ~83 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Xining?

Xining has a population of 1,677,177 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #85 biggest city in China.

What region is Xining in?

Xining is located in Qinghai, China.

Is Xining the capital of China?

No, the capital of China is Beijing, about 1,327 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

← All biggest cities in China · China population by year