Worst air pollution Beijing, today and tomorrow
Today (10 August): Air quality in Beijing is poor. AQI and O3 are poor; PM2.5, NO2, and PM1 are medium; PM10, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 73.8/100).
Tomorrow (11 August 2026): Air quality in Beijing is fair. AQI improves to medium; O3 decreases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (PM1: 45.6/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
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Beijing's air quality reflects the North China Plain's partial topographic enclosure between the Yan and Taihang mountain ranges, with vehicle traffic on the Beijing Ring Roads and the surrounding heavy industry, coal heating, and construction generating elevated PM2.5 and SO₂. Seasonal dust transport from the Gobi and Mongolian deserts adds severe PM10 episodes, while winter coal heating under stagnant anticyclonic conditions creates Beijing's notorious PM2.5 spikes and the surrounding mountain enclosure maintains Beijing among the world's most documented major metropolitan air quality challenges throughout the year.
Today - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 15:00
AQI:
Poor
73.8/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
46.0/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
18.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
44.8/100
O3 (ozone):
Poor
73.8/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
5.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
11.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
51.3/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 11 August | Pollution peaks at 00:00
AQI:
Medium
45.6/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
41.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
13.6/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
44.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
30.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
5.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
10.9/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
45.6/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Beijing right now?
On 10 August 2026, overall air quality in Beijing is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 73.8/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 73.8/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Beijing?
On 11 August 2026, air quality conditions in Beijing will be better than today, with O3 forecast at fair at 30.9/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (PM1: 45.6/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Beijing?
Pollution in Beijing typically rises when road traffic, construction dust, as well as fishing fleet activity combine, especially once dry spells bring strong winds. These wind events can carry dust in from the surrounding arid landscape. Fuel burned for winter heating adds an extra layer of particulates on top of other sources.
Are air quality levels in Beijing based on measurements or forecasts?
It is forecasts derived by downscaling forecasts provided by EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) by taking into account local conditions such as traffic patterns. CAMS bases its forecast on satellite measurements of particles and chemical compounds in the atmosphere. Airmine’s services were developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team.
Why doesn’t the forecast always reflect wildfire impacts?
Airmine’s forecast uses CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) as its background atmospheric model. While CAMS includes wildfire emissions, these are derived from satellite observations and are not available in real time. During rapidly evolving wildfire events, there may therefore be a delay before increased emissions are incorporated into the model. As a result, the forecast may temporarily underestimate PM₂.₅ and other pollutants associated with wildfire smoke.
During rapidly evolving wildfire events, CAMS may lag by approximately 1–2 days before increased wildfire emissions are fully represented, which can lead to temporary underestimation of PM₂.₅ concentrations in Airmine’s forecast.
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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 9 August 2026 at 20:27 CEST (Data is updated four times daily.)
This forecast is produced independently using Airmine's own atmospheric data and models.
Unless explicitly made clear, the content on this site has not been paid for by external organisations and is Airmine's sole responsibility.
Disclaimer: Forecasts are provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as medical advice. Actual pollen and air quality conditions may vary from the forecast. If you have allergies, asthma, or another medical condition, consult a healthcare professional. Please see our Terms of Service for important information about limitations of liability.
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