China's City Pollution: A Hazardous Air Affair

China is home to some of the world's most polluted cities, with 90% of the 200 cities with the worst air pollution located in China and India. In 2019, China ranked as the 11th most polluted country in the world. Beijing, China's capital, is one of the most well-known polluted cities, with air quality levels classified as unhealthy for sensitive groups for ten months of the year in 2019. However, Beijing has seen improvements in recent years, and other cities in China have been ranked as more polluted, with 10 out of the 20 most polluted cities in 2023 located in Henan Province. The Chinese government has been investing heavily to combat pollution, and cities have adopted the Environmental Air Quality Standards to improve air quality. While progress has been made, air pollution remains a significant issue in many Chinese cities.

Beijing's air pollution

Beijing has long suffered from high levels of air pollution. In 2019, Beijing residents experienced "Moderate" levels of pollution for just two months, with air quality for the rest of the year classified as "Unhealthy for Sensitive groups" according to World Health Organisation guidelines.

The Chinese government has been investing heavily to combat pollution, pledging over $277 billion in 2013. In 2012, Beijing began publishing weekly air quality reports and implementing measures to tackle air pollution, including laws and enforcement mechanisms, systematic planning, stricter local standards, and increased public engagement. The transport sector was a key focus, with efforts to reduce car ownership and encourage the use of bicycles and public transport.

Beijing has also worked to limit the use of coal-fired boilers, providing cleaner fuels for home use and restructuring industries to reduce emissions. As a result of these measures, Beijing has made significant progress in improving its air quality. Between 2013 and 2017, the annual average PM2.5 concentration in Beijing dropped by 35%, and concentrations of sulphur dioxide and nitrous dioxide also decreased substantially.

Despite these improvements, Beijing still faces challenges in maintaining healthy air quality. In 2025, Beijing's overall air quality index was 165, with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels of concern. However, Beijing's efforts to combat air pollution are ongoing, and the city continues to implement measures to create a cleaner and healthier environment for its residents.

Shanghai's air quality

Shanghai, China's largest and most populous city, has experienced issues with air quality and pollution. While real-time air quality data is available for Shanghai, it is important to note that the data should be used with caution as it may not have been reviewed for accuracy and is subject to equipment limitations and fluctuations that can cause inaccurate readings.

On one particular day in May 2025, Shanghai's overall air quality index was 80. The PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) AQI was 80, PM10 (respirable particulate matter) was 42, NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) was 12, SO2 (sulfur dioxide) was 4, O3 (ozone) was 45, and CO (carbon monoxide) was 6.

While Shanghai's air quality may be acceptable for most individuals on certain days, sensitive groups may experience symptoms with long-term exposure. On days with high pollution levels, sensitive groups are advised to reduce their time spent outside, as they may experience immediate health effects such as difficulty breathing and throat irritation.

Shanghai is part of the Yangtze River Delta region, where air pollution is becoming increasingly serious. China has been taking steps to combat pollution, with significant investments and the adoption of Environmental Air Quality Standards in cities, which have led to notable reductions in pollutants such as sulphur dioxide (SO2). Coal is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants in China, and progress has been made to reduce its use and improve air quality.

Xinjiang's polluted cities

China has been making efforts to combat air pollution, which is the biggest threat to the nation's health. The Chinese government has invested heavily in this regard, with over $277 billion pledged by the Academy for Environmental Planning in 2013. Cities have adopted the Environmental Air Quality Standards, resulting in a 42% drop in PM2.5 levels and a 68% drop in sulphur dioxide (SO2) levels between 2013 and 2018. Despite these efforts, air pollution remains a significant issue, with China ranking as the 11th dirtiest country in the world in 2019.

Xinjiang, a region in China's northwest, is facing severe air pollution. According to a Greenpeace survey, Xinjiang is home to six of the country's ten most polluted cities. Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, has been blacklisted for having the worst air pollution in China. The city's air quality has been rated as Grade III, the worst of the national air quality standards, due to its high levels of SO2 and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5). The main sources of pollution in Xinjiang include coal-fired power plants, coal mining, vehicle emissions, industrial factories, and underground coal fires.

The air pollution in Xinjiang has been exacerbated by rapid industrialization and infrastructure projects, such as the expansion of the cotton industry and energy development projects. The region has also faced challenges with water management, with over-extraction for cities and agriculture leading to extremely low groundwater tables. The Chinese government's "'Develop the West'" campaign aims to raise economic growth in the interior regions, including Xinjiang, but it has also contributed to the environmental challenges the region faces.

The health consequences of air pollution in Xinjiang are significant, particularly for minority groups. The wealthier Han Chinese population in Xinjiang has better access to healthcare, which likely equips them more effectively to deal with health problems linked to pollution. The high levels of SO2 and particulate matter in the air can impair breathing, aggravate heart disease, and cause respiratory diseases. Indoor air pollution is also a notable problem in rural areas, disproportionately affecting women and children.

While cities in the Jing-Jin-Ji area (Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei) have seen improvements in air quality, the focus has now shifted to cities in the northwest, including Xinjiang. According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Urban Ambient Air Pollution Database, Xinjiang's air quality has deteriorated, causing concern among commentators. The latest data from WHO, which includes PM2.5 levels, further underscores the urgency of addressing air pollution in China to protect public health.

Henan Province's pollution levels

China has been taking steps to combat air pollution, with the Chinese government investing over $277 billion in 2013. Cities have also adopted the Environmental Air Quality Standards, which has led to a 42% drop in PM2.5 levels and a 68% drop in sulphur dioxide levels between 2013 and 2018. Despite these efforts, air pollution remains a significant issue, with 80% of Chinese cities failing to meet the national standard in 2018.

Henan, a major coal and metal-producing province in central China, is one of the areas struggling with poor air quality. In 2019, air pollution in Henan worsened even as other regions saw improvements. Nine cities in Henan recorded a rise in PM2.5 levels to an average of 82 micrograms per cubic meter in December 2018, up 12% from the previous year. This is nearly double the national standard of 35 micrograms per cubic meter. Henan's Anyang was ranked as China's smoggiest city in 2020.

The province's heavy industry and coal dependence contribute significantly to its air pollution challenges. Henan has been under pressure to curb pollution and restructure its industrial economy as part of Beijing's "war on pollution." While Henan met its target to cut air pollution in 2018, it still fell short of the national target. Concentrations of PM2.5 fell 1.6% in 2018 to 61 micrograms per cubic meter, beating its target of 63 but remaining above the national standard.

Weather conditions, such as high humidity and low wind, have also exacerbated smog in the province. Local governments in Henan have issued "red alerts" for air quality, and the province is working to reduce coal consumption. However, its mining-dependent cities face challenges in finding alternative sources of economic growth.

Overall, Henan Province continues to face environmental shortcomings and struggles to meet public expectations for tackling pollution. While some progress has been made, the province still has a long way to go to improve its air quality and meet the requirements set by the central government.

Tibet's cleanest air

China has long struggled with air pollution, with coal being the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants in the country. In 2019, China ranked as the 11th dirtiest country in the world, with Beijing experiencing "Moderate" levels of pollution for only two months of the year. The remaining ten months were classified as "Unhealthy for Sensitive groups" according to World Health Organisation guidelines.

However, in recent years, China has made significant progress in improving its air quality. Between 2013 and 2017, PM2.5 levels were reduced by 33% in at least 74 cities, and in 2018, they fell by a further 10%. This is largely due to the Chinese government's heavy investment in combating pollution, with over $277 billion pledged by the Academy for Environmental Planning in 2013.

Despite these challenges, Tibet stands out as a region with consistently clean air. In December 2020, the city of Linzhi recorded a US AQI figure of 50, and it was voted China's cleanest city in 2019 with an average annual figure of 27. Other pollutants were also recorded at relatively low levels, although there is still room for improvement. The PM2.5 concentration was 15 µg/m³, and the PM10 figure was 20 µg/m³. Ground-level ozone (O3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were measured at 73 µg/m³ and 7 µg/m³, respectively. Sulphur dioxide (SO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) levels were 6 µg/m³ and 600 µg/m³.

In particular, the area around Nam Co Lake in Tibet has been described as having the cleanest air in the world. The Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) of air samples from this region stood at 0.029, a reading comparable to that found in Antarctica. The excellent air quality in this area is attributed to the low level of human activity, as most residents are herders.

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