Worst air pollution Xining, today and tomorrow
Today (10 August): Air quality in Xining is poor. AQI and O3 are poor; NO2 is fair; PM2.5, PM10, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 60.9/100).
Tomorrow (11 August 2026): Air quality in Xining is fair. AQI improves to medium; PM2.5 increases to fair; NO2 decreases to medium; O3 decreases to medium; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 59.4/100). 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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Xining's air quality reflects the Qinghai Huang River valley's enclosed basin position at 2,275 metres, with vehicle traffic on surrounding expressways and the salt and potash chemical, livestock, and agricultural corridor contributing local sources. The surrounding Laji and Datong mountains create significant topographic enclosure, while winter coal heating under valley inversions generates elevated PM2.5 and the elevated Qinghai plateau position provides better summer conditions than China's lower-altitude enclosed basins throughout the year.
Today - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 16:00
AQI:
Poor
60.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
18.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
16.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
36.9/100
O3 (ozone):
Poor
60.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
6.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
6.0/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
12.2/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 11 August | Pollution peaks at 14:00
AQI:
Medium
59.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
20.6/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
10.6/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
46.2/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
59.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
9.6/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
19.9/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Xining right now?
On 10 August 2026, overall air quality in Xining is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 60.9/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 60.9/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Xining?
On 11 August 2026, air quality conditions in Xining will be better than today, with PM2.5 forecast at fair at 20.6/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 59.4/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Xining?
In Xining, road traffic, petrochemical and refining operations, and crop farming are the main local sources, with conditions worsening when the surrounding valley traps air close to the ground. The bowl-like terrain here limits how quickly pollutants can escape. Fuel burned for winter heating adds an extra layer of particulates on top of other sources.
Are air quality levels in Xining 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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