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Jianguang, situated in central Jiangxi province at coordinates 28.1958°N, 115.7833°E, occupies a strategic position within China's Poyang Lake Plain, approximately 60 kilometers southwest of Nanchang, the provincial capital. This mid-sized city of over one million residents lies at a modest elevation of 20-50 meters above sea level, nestled within the fertile Gan River basin that defines Jiangxi's agricultural heartland. The urban area is characterized by a compact core surrounded by expanding suburban zones that gradually transition into intensive rice paddies and aquaculture operations, creating a distinct urban-rural gradient. Jianguang's location places it within the Yangtze River Delta's extended economic influence zone, though it remains somewhat peripheral to the province's major industrial corridors concentrated along the Beijing-Kowloon Railway. The city's air quality is profoundly shaped by its basin topography—surrounded by low hills to the north and west that can trap pollutants during stable atmospheric conditions. Proximity to Poyang Lake, China's largest freshwater lake 80 kilometers to the northeast, provides some moderating influence through lake-effect breezes, yet also contributes to elevated humidity that can exacerbate particulate matter formation. The Gan River flows just east of the urban center, serving both as transportation artery and occasional source of fugitive dust from exposed riverbanks during dry periods. This geographic setting creates a complex airshed where local emissions from urban transportation, residential heating, and small-scale manufacturing interact with regional agricultural burning and transported pollution from more industrialized areas upwind.

Jianguang experiences distinct seasonal air quality patterns driven by the East Asian monsoon system and local meteorological conditions. During winter (December-February), cold, stable air masses frequently settle in the Gan River basin, creating temperature inversions that trap pollutants near the surface. These conditions, combined with increased residential coal and biomass burning for heating, typically produce the year's poorest air quality, particularly in January when winds are lightest. Sensitive groups should limit prolonged outdoor exposure during these months and consider indoor air purifiers. 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. The period from late April through May often offers the most favorable conditions for outdoor activities as temperatures moderate and precipitation increases. Summer (June-August) features the southwest monsoon with higher winds and frequent convective storms that effectively disperse pollutants, though high temperatures and sunlight can accelerate ozone formation on stagnant days. Autumn (September-November) begins with relatively clean air in September but gradually deteriorates as agricultural burning of rice straw becomes widespread in October and November, coinciding with the return of more stable atmospheric conditions. The post-harvest burning period creates distinct pollution episodes that sensitive residents should monitor through local air quality indices. Throughout the year, morning fog is common due to high humidity from nearby water bodies, which can temporarily elevate particulate concentrations until daytime heating disperses the moisture.