Worst air pollution Lanzhou, today and tomorrow
Today (17 August): Air quality in Lanzhou is poor. AQI and NO2 are poor; PM2.5, PM10, O3, SO2, and PM1 are fair; CO and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (NO2: 64.7/100).
Tomorrow (18 August 2026): Air quality in Lanzhou is poor. PM10 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 6:00 AM (NO2: 79.4/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Lanzhou's air quality reflects the Yellow River valley's severe topographic enclosure between the Qilian and Liupan mountain ranges at 1,520 metres, with vehicle traffic on surrounding expressways and the petrochemical, aluminium, and nuclear energy corridor generating elevated industrial SO₂. The valley's near-complete mountain wall creates some of northwestern China's most severe winter pollution trapping, while the Yellow River's valley humidity and the petrochemical scale maintain Lanzhou among China's more severely topographically challenged inland provincial capitals throughout the winter months.
Today - 17 August | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Poor
64.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
28.6/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
25.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Poor
64.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
37.1/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
32.5/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
23.3/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 18 August | Pollution peaks at 06:00
AQI:
Poor
79.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
26.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
13.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Poor
79.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
39.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
36.0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
26.9/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Lanzhou right now?
On 17 August 2026, overall air quality in Lanzhou is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 64.7/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (NO2: 64.7/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Lanzhou?
On 18 August 2026, air quality conditions in Lanzhou will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at poor at 79.4/100. Pollution peaks around 6:00 AM (NO2: 79.4/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Lanzhou?
In Lanzhou, traffic on the surrounding roads, petrochemical and refining operations, as well as power generation are the main local sources, with conditions worsening when windblown dust events occur. These wind events can carry dust in from the surrounding arid landscape. These episodes tend to cluster in spring and autumn.
Are air quality levels in Lanzhou 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: 17 August 2026 at 08:27 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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