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Lianjiang is a coastal county-level city in southwestern Guangdong Province, China, situated on the eastern shore of the Leizhou Peninsula where it meets the South China Sea. Its coordinates at 21.7333°N, 110.2833°E place it in a low-lying coastal plain region with an average elevation under 50 meters, characterized by gentle terrain that slopes gradually toward the sea. The city's urban core lies along the Lianjiang River estuary, creating a distinctive urban-rural gradient where dense settlement near the coast transitions to agricultural hinterlands inland. This geography profoundly influences air quality through both natural and anthropogenic factors. Proximity to the South China Sea provides maritime influences that can disperse pollutants, but the city's position within the Pearl River Delta's extended industrial belt—particularly its connections to Zhanjiang's petrochemical and manufacturing zones—means it receives regional pollution transport. Surrounding landscapes include rice paddies, sugarcane fields, and aquaculture ponds whose agricultural emissions contribute to particulate matter. The urban area's coastal location creates a microclimate where sea breezes alternate with land winds, while the lack of significant topographic barriers allows pollutants to accumulate during stagnant conditions, especially when influenced by the Pearl River Delta's industrial plumes moving southwestward.

Lianjiang's air quality follows distinct seasonal patterns shaped by the East Asian monsoon system and local meteorological conditions. During winter (December-February), northeasterly monsoon winds transport pollutants from industrial regions north of the Pearl River Delta, while cooler temperatures and occasional temperature inversions trap emissions near the surface, creating the year's worst air quality—particularly in January and February when humidity combines with pollution to form haze. Spring (March-May) brings transitional weather with variable winds that sometimes clear pollutants but can also see pollution buildup during calm periods before the summer monsoon arrives. Summer (June-August) offers the cleanest air as strong southwesterly monsoon winds from the South China Sea vigorously disperse pollutants, though high humidity and heat can occasionally combine with local emissions to create brief ozone episodes. Autumn (September-November) begins with relatively good air quality that gradually deteriorates as monsoon winds weaken and temperature inversions become more frequent, with October and November seeing increasing pollution accumulation. Sensitive groups should avoid prolonged outdoor activity during winter haze episodes and on still, humid days in transitional seasons, while summer generally provides the safest conditions for outdoor exercise. The city's coastal fog, most common in spring and autumn, can exacerbate pollution visibility issues but doesn't necessarily indicate higher pollutant concentrations.