Nestled in the heart of Shandong province, Gangcheng district shares its borders with Laiwu district to the north, Xintai city to the south, and Yiyuan county to the east. The district is a major transportation hub, with the Beijing-Shanghai, Qingdao-Lanzhou, Tai'an-Laiwu and Boshan-Laiwu expressways, as well as the Ciyao-Laiwu and Watang-Rizhao railways running through its territory.

The district has over 20 types of mineral resources including coal, iron, copper, gold, and dolomite. With a coal reserve of nearly 100 million metric tons, it serves as an important steel and energy base in Shandong province, earning it the moniker "Steel City and Coal Capital".

Gangcheng district is home to many scenic spots such as Qishan Mountain National Forest Park, Dawen River National Wetland Park, and more. It also has theme parks like Aishan Park and Gangcheng Botanical Garden, and resort areas like Qishan Mountain Hot Spring Town and Film and Television Town, making it a key tourist destination around Jinan.

The district is home to large State-owned steel enterprises Laigang Group and Shandong Iron and Steel Co.

Gangcheng district has a steel production capacity of 13 million tons and a deep processing capacity of 4 million tons. The district's emerging industries are flourishing, and its powder metallurgy industry, which possesses internationally leading high-density low-alloy technology, serves as the largest powder metallurgy material production base in the country. Its electronic information industry can produce 14 million square meters of flexible copper-clad laminate and 3 million square meters of ITO film annually. The modern service industry has been booming as well, with Qilu Steel Logistics Park recognized as a key park for the service industry in Shandong province.

According to official data, Gangcheng district achieved a regional GDP of 35.01 billion yuan ($4.87 billion) in 2023, with an increase of 3.8 percent over the previous year.