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Jinchang is situated in the central-western region of Gansu Province, China, positioned along the ancient Silk Road corridor where the Hexi Corridor meets the northern foothills of the Qilian Mountains. This city occupies a strategic location approximately 1,500 meters above sea level on the arid Gobi Desert fringe, creating a distinctive urban character shaped by its desert-oasis transition zone. The urban core lies within the Jinchuan District, surrounded by vast expanses of semi-desert and agricultural lands that form a sharp urban-rural gradient. Jinchang's geography is dominated by its position between the Badain Jaran Desert to the north and the Qilian Mountains to the south, with no significant bodies of water nearby except for seasonal rivers like the Shiyang River system. This location profoundly impacts air quality through several mechanisms: the surrounding desert contributes frequent dust storms, particularly during spring, while the city's position in a basin-like terrain between mountain ranges creates natural atmospheric stagnation. Jinchang forms part of the Hexi Industrial Belt, with its economy historically centered on nickel mining and smelting operations that generate industrial emissions. The urban area's expansion into surrounding agricultural zones, where wheat and corn cultivation occurs, introduces additional particulate matter during harvest seasons. The city's elevation provides some atmospheric mixing benefits but is insufficient to overcome pollution accumulation during temperature inversions common in this continental basin geography.

Jinchang's air quality follows a distinct seasonal pattern shaped by its continental desert climate and industrial activities. Spring (March-May) typically presents the most challenging conditions, with frequent dust storms originating from the surrounding Gobi Desert that dramatically elevate particulate levels, particularly in April when strong northwest winds transport fine dust across the region. These conditions make outdoor activities inadvisable for sensitive groups without proper protection. Summer (June-August) brings relative improvement as increased atmospheric mixing from warmer temperatures and occasional rainfall helps disperse pollutants, though industrial emissions from nickel processing remain constant. July and August offer the most favorable conditions for outdoor activities, though afternoon heat can still concentrate ground-level ozone. Autumn (September-November) sees a gradual deterioration as temperatures drop and atmospheric stability increases, with October often marking the beginning of persistent pollution episodes as heating systems activate and temperature inversions become more frequent. Winter (December-February) presents the most severe sustained pollution, with cold air trapping industrial and residential emissions in the basin, compounded by coal-fired heating systems. January typically experiences the worst air quality, when temperature inversions are strongest and wind speeds lowest. Sensitive groups should limit outdoor exposure during winter mornings when pollution concentrations peak, and consider indoor air purification during extended stagnation periods that can last several days.