西甯市的海拔为2275米，市区坐落在湟水中游谷地，湟水及其支流南川河、北川河从西、南、北叁面汇合于市区，向东贯流全市。
The river from west and its branches of Nanchuan River from south , and Beichuan River from north meet in the city and go eastward through the whole city .
湟水谷地