Is the air quality good in Beijing?
On September 11, 2025, at 7:00 AM PT, Beijing, China, is experiencing poor air quality due to regional dust and emissions. The AQI is over 140, classified as "unhealthy for sensitive groups," with PM2.5 concentrations dominating.
These conditions can impact children, the elderly, pregnant people, and people with cardiac and pulmonary diseases. The general population may be mostly unaffected, but sensitive groups can experience eye, skin, and throat irritation, as well as respiratory issues and should avoid outdoor activity.
Air quality is dynamic and, like the weather, can change frequently. Beijing ranked 5th among the most polluted cities in the world on Friday morning (local time), with nearby cities like Tianjin also affected.
Click here for a real-time air quality map of Beijing.
While the air quality conditions today are unusually poor, it is important to keep in mind that the average PM2.5 concentration in 2024 for Beijing was 30.9 µg/m³, corresponding to an AQI of 92 (“moderate”), which was already 6.2 times the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m³.
By contrast, today’s AQI has surged to 147, more than 50% higher than last year’s average, pushing Beijing from a relatively moderate pollution baseline into clearly unhealthy territory. This sharp deterioration highlights how vulnerable the city remains to sudden and severe pollution spikes.
Beijing, China ranked as the 5th most polluted major city on Sept 12, 2025. Source: IQAir.
When will the air quality improve in Beijing?
Daily forecasts indicate that Beijing’s air quality generally remains within the “moderate” range, but today it has spiked into the harmful category, with AQI readings climbing well above safe levels.
According to the hourly forecast, conditions are expected to improve by evening, with the AQI projected to drop closer to 100 as winds pick up and disperse accumulated pollutants.
In the broader context, such pollution spikes underscore the need for sustained large-scale measures, ranging from stricter emissions controls to cleaner energy transitions, to keep air quality consistently under control and safeguard public health (1).
Hourly air quality forecast for Beijing, China on Sept 12, 2025. Source: IQAir.
Daily air quality forecast for Beijing, China for the last 30 days. Source: IQAir.
Air quality map of Beijing, China on Sept 12, 2025. Source: IQAir.
What is causing poor air quality in Beijing?
Beijing’s poor air quality arises from several interlinked factors. Industrial emissions and coal combustion remain a significant source of particulate matter, particularly during heating seasons.
Vehicle exhaust adds another layer of pollutants, with older, higher-emitting vehicles contributing heavily to nitrogen oxides and PM2.5.
Seasonal dust storms from the Gobi Desert and surrounding arid regions also transport large amounts of particles into the city, compounding existing pollution (2).
Finally, weather conditions such as thermal inversions, humidity, and stagnant air trap pollutants close to the ground, intensifying smog episodes.
How can I protect myself from poor air quality?
- Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
- Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
- Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
- Stay indoors when air quality is poor; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
- Run a high-performance air purifier to filter particles, gases, and other pollutants.
