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Anqing occupies a strategic position along the Yangtze River in southern Anhui province, where the river valley narrows between the Dabie Mountains to the north and the Huangshan foothills to the south. This creates a distinctive urban geography where the city proper clusters along the riverbanks, with elevation ranging from 20 to 40 meters above sea level, while surrounding terrain rises to over 1,000 meters in nearby mountainous areas. The Yangtze River serves as both a transportation corridor and a moderating influence on local climate, though its valley can act as a conduit for regional pollution transport. Anqing lies within the Yangtze River Delta economic zone, positioned between major industrial centers like Wuhan upstream and Nanjing downstream, placing it within China's eastern industrial belt while maintaining significant agricultural hinterlands in the surrounding Anhui countryside. The urban-rural gradient shows dense urban development along the river transitioning to rice paddies, tea plantations, and forested hillsides within 20 kilometers of the city center. This geography creates complex air quality dynamics: mountain ranges can trap pollutants during stagnant conditions, while the river valley facilitates both ventilation and pollution transport depending on wind patterns. The city's industrial areas, concentrated along the riverfront and in northeastern districts, combine with vehicle emissions from the urban core and occasional agricultural burning from surrounding farmlands to create mixed pollution sources typical of medium-sized Chinese cities in transitional landscapes.

Anqing's air quality follows distinct seasonal patterns shaped by the East Asian monsoon and its river valley location. Winter (December-February) typically brings the poorest air quality, with frequent temperature inversions trapping pollutants in the Yangtze River basin. Cold, stagnant conditions combined with increased heating demand create persistent haze, making January the month most sensitive groups should limit prolonged outdoor exposure. Spring (March-May) sees gradual improvement as increasing solar radiation breaks up inversions, though March can still experience poor visibility from lingering winter pollution and occasional dust transport from northern regions. The monsoon transition in late spring brings more frequent rainfall that helps cleanse the atmosphere. Summer (June-August) offers the cleanest air despite high temperatures, as the prevailing southeasterly monsoon winds from the Pacific provide excellent ventilation through the river valley, with July and August being optimal for outdoor activities. However, high humidity can combine with ozone precursors on hot days to create secondary pollution. Autumn (September-November) begins with relatively good conditions in September but deteriorates through October and November as monsoon winds retreat, atmospheric stability increases, and agricultural burning in surrounding areas occasionally contributes to haze. Sensitive individuals should monitor daily forecasts particularly during winter stagnation periods and autumn transition months, adjusting outdoor exercise to midday when mixing is best and avoiding early morning hours when inversions are strongest.