Situated in the southwest of Yunnan, Ruili bores on Burma in the west. Historically, Ruili was called "Mengmao", meaning "the misty place". The seasons here are divided into dry season and rainy season. It is cool and misty in dry season, while stuffy in rainy season. The subtropical climate here makes Ruili a kingdom of plants and animals.

As an interior border port, Ruili is the gateway connecting China with the South Asian and Southeast Asian nations.

The main tourist zones in Ruili include the Terrestrial Heat Volcano in Tengchong, which covers an area of 130 square km; the Folding Waterfall; the River Ruili-River Daying Tourist Zone, with Burma Temple, Karst physiognomy, and original zoology community.