Elevations are generally higher in the south of the county, in which flows the Cangtou River (苍头河); Youyu reaches a north-south extent of 67.7 km (42.1 mi) and east-west width of 45.7 km (28.4 mi). The Great Wall demarcates the northwestern border with Inner Mongolia's Liangcheng and Horinger counties; within the province, Youyu borders Zuoyun County to the east, Shanyin County and Pinglu District to the south.
Climate
Youyu has a monsoon-influenced, humid continental climate (KöppenDwb), with cold and very dry winters, and warm, humid summers. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from −14.3 °C (6.3 °F) in January to 19.9 °C (67.8 °F) in July, and the annual mean is 4.2 °C (39.6 °F). June thru September accounts for over three-fourths of the 407 millimetres (16.0 in) of annual precipitation. Due to the high elevation and dry climate, the diurnal temperature variation averages 16 °C (29 °F) annually.
Climate data for Youyu, elevation 1,346 m (4,416 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1971–2010)