Looking to find one of the best AQI cities in China to get a break from the pollution? Here is a list of the least polluted cities for 2025 with the best air quality in China.

Rankings: Top 10 Best AQI Cities in China (2025)

1. Ngari Prefecture, Tibet (5.4 μg/m³)

2. Nyingchi, Tibet (6.4 μg/m³)

3. Xigazê, Tibet (7.7 μg/m³)

4. Altay, Xinjiang (8.4 μg/m³)

5. Shannan, Tibet (9.7 μg/m³)

6. Qamdo, Tibet (10.1 μg/m³)

7. Lhasa, Tibet (10.1 μg/m3)

8. Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia (10.2 μg/m³)

8. Tarbagatay Prefecture, Xinjiang (10.5 μg/m³)

10. Sanya, Hainan (11.4 μg/m³)

Top 10 Chinese Cities with the Best Air Quality

Most of the cleanest cities are located in Tibet (Xizang Autonomous Region), including Ngari, Nyingchi, Xigazê, Shannan, Qamdo, and Lhasa. These areas benefit from high altitude, low population density, minimal heavy industry, and limited traffic congestion. Similarly, Altay and Tarbagatay in Xinjiang and Xilingol League in Inner Mongolia are sparsely populated regions with low industrial intensity. Sanya in Hainan, a coastal city, also performs well, likely because of ocean airflow and limited heavy manufacturing.

Most cities in this list fall well below China’s national annual PM2.5 standard of 35 µg/m³. However, only Ngari is near the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, and the rest still exceed the WHO’s recommended level. While these are the cleanest cities in China, truly ultra-low pollution levels remain rare nationwide.

How Air Pollution Was Measured

There are various pollutants (both particles and gases) that can be found in the air. One of the most commonly tracked pollutants is very small, fine particles called PM2.5.

These small pollutants are under 2.5 micrograms in width and are considered to be one of the more dangerous pollutants due to their ability to enter deep into the lungs and bloodstream.

Recommended limits

The limit that is closely aligned with what studies show about the health effects of pollution is the annual limit of 5 micrograms/m3.