Published by ChinaMNC · Shantou

Shantou Air Quality Report: What Foreign Founders Should Know About Operating in the City

A practical guide for foreign founders in Shantou, based on the city's weekly air quality report for October 19–25, 2026, including district-level AQI data and the forecast for the coming week.

Shantou's Weekly Air Quality Snapshot for Foreign Founders

For foreign founders setting up or running a company in Shantou, environmental conditions can affect decisions ranging from office location and staff welfare to operational planning. The Shantou Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau publishes a weekly air quality review and forecast, and the report for the week of October 19–25, 2026, offers a practical snapshot of conditions across the city's districts.

The data below comes directly from the official municipal report. It is presented here as general context for foreign entrepreneurs, not as a substitute for professional environmental or site-selection advice.

Citywide Air Quality for October 19–25, 2026

During the reporting week, the Air Quality Index (AQI) across Shantou's urban area ranged from 42 to 76. Of the seven days, two were classified as "Excellent" and five as "Good." No days fell into categories worse than "Good."

Two pollutant measures are especially relevant for founders thinking about employee exposure and outdoor work:

• PM10 (coarse particulate matter): weekly average concentration of 32 micrograms per cubic meter.
• PM2.5 (fine particulate matter): weekly average concentration of 17.4 micrograms per cubic meter.

Compared with the previous week, concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) rose, while PM2.5, PM10, and ozone (O3) declined. This mixed picture is useful context: improvements in some pollutants can coincide with increases in others, so a single headline number rarely tells the full story.

Understanding the Composite Air Quality Index

Shantou's reports also cite a composite air quality index, a dimensionless measure that combines six pollutants: SO2, NO2, PM10, PM2.5, CO, and O3. The key point for readers is directional: a higher composite index indicates a heavier overall pollution burden. It is not a percentage or a health score, and it should not be compared directly with AQI values without understanding the methodology.

For founders evaluating multiple sites or planning employee commuting and outdoor facilities, the composite index is most useful when tracked over time rather than read in isolation.

District-Level Results

The report provides AQI ranges and composite index values for individual monitoring stations across Shantou's districts. The table below reproduces those figures.

• Jinping station: AQI range 43–85; composite index 4.79.
• Longhu station: AQI range 42–70; composite index 4.51.
• Haojiang station: AQI range 43–68; composite index 4.32.
• Chenghai station: AQI range 41–79; composite index 4.62.
• Chaoyang station: AQI range 43–85; composite index 4.55.
• Chaonan station: AQI range 38–71; composite index 4.87.
• Chaonan Xiashan station: AQI range 42–76; composite index 4.71.
• Nanao Houzhai station: AQI range 42–63; composite index 3.99.

Among the listed stations, Nanao Houzhai recorded the lowest composite index, while Chaonan recorded the highest. AQI ranges varied by station, with the upper bounds reaching 85 at Jinping and Chaoyang. These station-level figures can help founders compare general conditions across districts when considering office, factory, or warehouse locations, though air quality is only one factor among many.

Forecast for October 26–November 1, 2026

For the following week, the official forecast states that air quality will be "Excellent to Good" from October 26 through November 1. The forecast attributes this to the influence of northerly winds shifting to easterly flows. The primary pollutant is expected to be ozone.

For founders planning outdoor events, site visits, or staff schedules, the forecast suggests generally favorable conditions during this period. Ozone as the primary pollutant is a reminder that sunny, warmer conditions can raise ozone levels even when particulate matter is low.

Important Caveats on the Data

The report notes that all figures are actual observed data and have not yet been reviewed by the central monitoring station. This means the numbers may be subject to later revision. Founders who need verified environmental data for compliance, reporting, or contractual purposes should consult the official Shantou Ecology and Environment Bureau website and its air quality real-time and forecast publishing system, which provides daily detailed observations and three-day forecasts.

Practical Takeaways for Foreign Founders

• Use district data for site comparisons: Station-level AQI ranges and composite indices offer a starting point when comparing locations, but should be combined with other due-diligence factors.
• Track trends, not single weeks: Weekly reports show that pollutant levels move in different directions; monitoring over time gives a clearer picture.
• Plan around the forecast: The current forecast points to favorable air quality with ozone as the main pollutant.
• Verify before relying on data: Because the figures are unreviewed actuals, confirm details through official channels before using them in formal documents.

The report was issued by the Guangdong Shantou Ecological Environment Monitoring Center Station on October 26, 2026, and published by the Shantou Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.