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Xinyang occupies a distinctive position in southeastern Henan province, China, where the North China Plain meets the foothills of the Dabie Mountains to the south. This transitional geography creates a unique urban character: a major prefecture-level city serving as a commercial and transportation hub between central China's agricultural heartland and more mountainous regions. Situated at approximately 32°N latitude and 114°E longitude, Xinyang lies at an elevation ranging from 50 to 100 meters above sea level in its urban core, with surrounding terrain gradually rising toward southern highlands. The city's location specifically affects air quality through several mechanisms. Xinyang sits within the Huai River basin, with the river itself flowing through the metropolitan area, providing some natural ventilation but also creating valley effects that can trap pollutants. The city's position between agricultural zones to the north and industrial belts to the east creates an urban–rural gradient where pollution sources intermix. To the northeast lies the heavily industrialized region of central China, while Xinyang's immediate surroundings feature extensive rice paddies and tea plantations whose agricultural burning contributes to seasonal haze. The Dabie Mountains to the south can act as a partial barrier to southerly winds, potentially limiting pollutant dispersion during certain meteorological conditions. Xinyang's role as a transportation corridor between Wuhan to the south and Zhengzhou to the north means significant vehicular emissions compound local industrial and residential pollution sources. The city's expansion into surrounding agricultural land creates a peri-urban interface where construction dust and biomass burning frequently degrade air quality.

Xinyang experiences distinct seasonal air quality patterns shaped by its transitional climate between northern and southern China. Spring (March-May) typically brings improving conditions as increasing temperatures and more frequent winds from the southeast help disperse pollutants, though occasional dust storms from the northwest and agricultural burning for spring planting can cause temporary spikes. Summer (June-August) offers the cleanest air overall, with the East Asian monsoon bringing southerly winds and precipitation that effectively wash pollutants from the atmosphere; however, high temperatures can accelerate ozone formation on sunny days. Autumn (September-November) sees a gradual deterioration as monsoon winds retreat, temperatures drop, and atmospheric stability increases. October and November often bring the year's worst pollution episodes due to temperature inversions that trap pollutants near the surface, compounded by agricultural residue burning after harvest. Winter (December-February) maintains poor air quality with frequent temperature inversions and low wind speeds, exacerbated by increased coal burning for heating and industrial energy needs. Sensitive groups should particularly avoid extended outdoor activity during late autumn and winter months when particulate matter concentrations peak. The city's location in a basin can intensify winter fog episodes that combine with pollution to create hazardous smog. For health protection, residents should monitor air quality forecasts daily, use air purifiers indoors during pollution episodes, and schedule outdoor exercise for summer mornings or after rainfall when pollutant dispersion is optimal.