The city is located about 20 kilometers south of the Qaflankuh Mountain Range. The population of Zanjan consists mostly of Iranian Azeris who can also speak the Azerbaijani language.
Zanjan is known for its beautiful handcrafts such as knives, traditional sandals, called charoogh, and malileh, a handcraft made with silver wires. Zanjani artists make many things like various decorative dishes and their special covers as well as silver jewelry. In ancient times, Zanjan was known for its stainless and sharp knives.