Is the air quality good in Beijing?
As of November 5, 2025, at 6:48 AM PT, Beijing, China is experiencing poor air quality. The AQI is 236 and falls in the "very unhealthy" range, with PM2.5 concentrations dominating.
Air quality is dynamic and, like the weather, can change frequently. Beijing ranks as the most polluted major city in the world. Numerous cities in China are experiencing poor air quality, including Baoding, Chengdu, Daqing, Kashgar, Langfang, Jinzhou, and Wuhan. Cities in northern and central China have been experiencing "unhealthy" to "very unhealthy" air quality for several days.
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”) and was 6.2 times the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m³.
Beijing, China ranked as the most polluted major city on November 5, at 6:48 AM PT, 2025. Source: IQAir.
When will air quality improve in Beijing?
Air quality in Beijing is forecasted to improve gradually later in the day and through tomorrow as wind patterns shift. Improvement is typically associated with stronger winds that disperse pollutants and frontal systems that break stagnant air layers.
Hourly air quality forecast for Beijing, China on November 5, 2025. Source: IQAir.
According to meteorological studies, short-term variations in Beijing’s ozone and PM2.5 - particulate matter measuring 2.5 microns in diameter or less - are heavily influenced by temperature gradients, mid-latitude circulation, and surface pressure systems. These factors determine how quickly pollutants disperse after accumulation periods.
Air quality map of Beijing, China on November 5, 2025. Source: IQAir.
What is causing poor air quality in Beijing?
Current poor air quality in Beijing results from a mix of meteorological and anthropogenic factors:
- Fine particulate matter (PM2.5): Emissions from vehicles, industrial activity, and residential heating contribute significantly to PM2.5 accumulation.
- Ozone formation: Stagnant weather conditions can promote photochemical reactions that increase surface ozone levels.
- Regional transport: Polluted air masses from neighboring industrial regions combine with local sources to worsen pollution episodes.
- Seasonal inversion layers: During winter, trapped cold air near the surface prevents vertical dispersion of pollutants.
Dust can play a significant role in air northeastern China's air quality. However, as of Wednesday morning dust is heaviest in western China, Inner Mongolia, and in provinces north of Beijing. in contrast, high levels of NO2, sulfur dioxide, and PM2 are being experienced across eastern China from Wuhan to Harbin (1)(2).
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.
