China Peak sits at 2,143 metres base elevation in the Sierra National Forest on the south shore of Huntington Lake in Fresno County, California. The resort occupies the western slope of the central Sierra Nevada range, approximately 110 kilometres northeast of Fresno in an area bounded by granite peaks and alpine lakes. Huntington Lake itself sits at 2,100 metres elevation, with the small community of Lakeshore 6 kilometres from the resort base. Shaver Lake, a larger recreational lake at 1,680 metres elevation, lies 30 kilometres downhill via winding mountain roads, offering lodging, dining and services unavailable at Huntington Lake.

Fresno, the nearest major city at 110,000 population, provides urban amenities 105 kilometres southwest in California's Central Valley. The town of Prather, 65 kilometres from the resort, offers the last reliable fuel and services before the mountain ascent. Lakeshore functions as a minimal base village with the resort's Inn, marinas and a seasonal general store. The town of Shaver Lake, 30 kilometres away with approximately 600 residents, features hotels, vacation rentals, restaurants including Seasons Bistro and Shaver Lake Pizza, plus grocery stores. The region sits roughly midway between Yosemite National Park to the north and Kings Canyon-Sequoia National Parks to the south, both within 90-minute drives.

Highway 168 provides the sole access route, climbing east from Fresno through Prather and Shaver Lake before terminating at Huntington Lake. The final hour from Shaver Lake to China Peak involves narrow, twisty mountain sections with steep grades requiring chains or four-wheel-drive during winter storms. Total drive time from Fresno typically runs 90 minutes to two hours depending on road conditions, with longer delays during heavy snowfall. San Jose sits four hours northwest, San Francisco four and a half hours, and Bakersfield three hours south. The resort's relative remoteness compared to Tahoe resorts keeps crowds lighter but adds drive time from major population centres.

Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) serves as the primary air gateway 105 kilometres southwest, offering flights on major carriers with 90-minute drive times to the resort. Rental cars provide the most practical airport transfer option, as public transport and shuttle services remain limited. Seasonal China Peak Express buses run select dates from Fresno, San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles, subject to schedule changes. San Francisco International Airport sits 360 kilometres northwest, and San Jose International Airport 320 kilometres away, both involving four-plus-hour drives. No rail service reaches the mountain corridor, making personal vehicles the dominant access method for this car-dependent destination.