“格尔木”为蒙古语音译，意为河流密集的地方，地处青海省西部、青藏高原腹地，辖区由柴达木盆地中南部和唐古拉山地区两块互不相连的区域组成，市区位于柴达木盆地中南部格尔木河冲积平原上，平均海拔2780米，属高原大陆性气候。格尔木以东是西宁，以北是敦煌，以南是拉萨。

"Golmud" translated into Mongolian speech, meaning River intensive place, is located in the western province of Qinghai, Qinghai Tibet Plateau hinterland, area is composed of the Qaidam Basin in South Central and Tanggula Mountain area two unconnected area, city is located in the Central South Qaidam Basin Golmud River alluvial plain, with an average altitude of 2780 meters, belonging to the plateau continental climate. East of Golmud is Xining, north of Dunhuang, south of Lhasa.