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Yangzhou, situated in central Jiangsu province along China's eastern coast, occupies a strategic position within the Yangtze River Delta region. The city lies on the northern bank of the Yangtze River, approximately 100 kilometers inland from the East China Sea, with its urban core positioned at a modest elevation of around 5-10 meters above sea level on the flat alluvial plains of the Yangtze River Basin. This low-lying terrain, characterized by extensive networks of canals, lakes, and wetlands including the nearby Gaoyou Lake and Shaobo Lake, creates a humid microclimate that can trap pollutants near ground level. Yangzhou's geography places it within China's most economically dynamic region—the Yangtze River Delta economic zone—where it functions as a secondary urban center between the megacities of Nanjing to the west and Shanghai to the southeast. The city's urban-rural gradient shows dense urban development along the Yangtze River corridor transitioning to agricultural hinterlands producing rice, wheat, and rapeseed, with light manufacturing and chemical industries concentrated in peripheral zones. This combination of industrial activity, agricultural emissions, and transportation networks along major waterways creates complex pollution dynamics, while the city's position inland from the coast reduces the cleansing effect of sea breezes that benefit coastal cities, allowing pollutants to accumulate under certain meteorological conditions.

Yangzhou experiences distinct seasonal air quality patterns shaped by East Asian monsoon circulation and local meteorological conditions. During winter (December-February), cold, stable air masses from Siberia create frequent temperature inversions that trap pollutants near the surface, with December and January typically showing the poorest air quality as heating demands increase emissions and calm winds prevent dispersion. Spring (March-May) brings transitional conditions with increasing rainfall that helps cleanse the atmosphere, though occasional dust events from northern China can temporarily degrade air quality in March. The summer monsoon (June-August) delivers southeasterly winds from the Pacific Ocean and frequent precipitation, creating the cleanest air of the year with July and August offering optimal conditions for outdoor activities. Autumn (September-November) sees gradually deteriorating air quality as monsoon winds retreat and stable atmospheric conditions return, with October often marking the transition toward winter pollution patterns. Sensitive groups including those with respiratory conditions, children, and elderly residents should limit prolonged outdoor exposure during winter months, particularly on calm, foggy mornings when pollutant concentrations peak, while summer provides the safest window for outdoor exercise and activities. The city's proximity to water bodies can enhance fog formation during transitional seasons, occasionally exacerbating pollution visibility issues.