China · Xinjiang · 22 cities
Air quality in Xinjiang today The AQI right now, city by city
Right now, Tacheng has the cleanest air of the 22 cities we track in Xinjiang (AQI 17, Good), and Aqsu the worst (AQI 209, Very unhealthy). Shihezi has the most tree cover, at 37.7% — #83 of 639 cities measured in China.
Every city is measured the same way, over the same 2 km around its center: the air quality right now, from ground stations where there are any, and its tree cover.
AQI 97
Average right now
Moderate
- cities tracked
- 22
- average tree cover
- 17.0%
- China: 22.9%
- worst air now: Aqsu
- 209
- cleanest air now: Tacheng
- 17
Lower is better on the US EPA index: 0–50 is Good, above 300 is Hazardous. Measured by Airleaf, refreshed hourly.
Xinjiang · average AQI 97
Air quality today across Xinjiang, city by city
| Ürümqi | 128Unhealthy for sensitive groups | 21.5% | 42.0K | #282 of 639 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shihezi | 102Unhealthy for sensitive groups | 37.7% | — | #83 of 639 |
| Korla | 77Moderate | 21.8% | 25.8K | #274 of 639 |
| Aqsu | 209Very unhealthy | 11.1% | 107K | #523 of 639 |
| Kashgar | 199Unhealthy | 10.4% | 89.6K | #541 of 639 |
| Gujangbagh | 82Moderate | 9.9% | 62.3K | #551 of 639 |
| Huocheng | 68Moderate | 12.9% | 53.7K | #476 of 639 |
| Artux | 74Moderate | 7.9% | 69.4K | #597 of 639 |
| Xinyuan | 60Moderate | 14.6% | 48.3K | #441 of 639 |
| Turpan | 153Unhealthy | 9.9% | 94.6K | #549 of 639 |
| Ghulja | 33Good | 16.7% | 41.8K | #386 of 639 |
| Karamay | 91Moderate | 22.6% | 23.2K | #255 of 639 |
| Hami | 152Unhealthy | 21.3% | 58.7K | #287 of 639 |
| Bole | 76Moderate | 12.4% | 55.1K | #492 of 639 |
| Changji | 137Unhealthy for sensitive groups | 28.5% | 20.4K | #165 of 639 |
| Jinshanlu | 46Good | 14.4% | 49.0K | #444 of 639 |
| Tacheng | 17Good | 15.7% | 44.8K | #415 of 639 |
| Wujiaqu | 127Unhealthy for sensitive groups | 20.1% | 46.2K | #311 of 639 |
| Tumxuk | 54Moderate | 18.9% | 34.9K | #345 of 639 |
| Shache | 126Unhealthy for sensitive groups | 15.1% | 62.5K | #428 of 639 |
| Ālā'ĕr | 35Good | 12.7% | 54.4K | #479 of 639 |
| Xincheng | 81Moderate | 19.0% | 34.6K | #343 of 639 |
Air quality is the US AQI from ground monitoring stations via OpenAQ where available, otherwise the Open-Meteo / CAMS model, refreshed hourly. Tree cover is measured within 2 km of each city center from Sentinel-2 imagery; the rank compares every city measured in China.
Deforestation · 2001–2025
How much forest has Xinjiang lost?
Since 2001, Xinjiang has lost about 10,100 hectares of forest (about 14,000 football pitches): under 1% of the forest it had in 2000. The biggest cause was wildfires (30%), after which forest can grow back. About 1,000 hectares (10%) was deforestation: forest cleared for good for farms, mines or towns.
- Forest lost since 2001
- 10,100 haabout 14,000 football pitches
- Share of its forest
- under 1%of what there was in 2000
- Cleared for good
- 1,000 hadeforestation: turned into farms, mines or towns
Hectares of forest lost each year
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Cleared for good | Can grow back | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 106 ha | 702 ha | 808 ha |
| 2002 | 188 ha | 1,350 ha | 1,540 ha |
| 2003 | 34 ha | 506 ha | 539 ha |
| 2004 | 56 ha | 730 ha | 786 ha |
| 2005 | 48 ha | 644 ha | 692 ha |
| 2006 | 90 ha | 489 ha | 579 ha |
| 2007 | 26 ha | 358 ha | 384 ha |
| 2008 | 65 ha | 424 ha | 488 ha |
| 2009 | 37 ha | 629 ha | 666 ha |
| 2010 | 59 ha | 567 ha | 626 ha |
| 2011 | 32 ha | 328 ha | 360 ha |
| 2012 | 50 ha | 1,110 ha | 1,160 ha |
| 2013 | 20 ha | 570 ha | 590 ha |
| 2014 | under 1 ha | 35 ha | 35 ha |
| 2015 | under 1 ha | under 1 ha | under 1 ha |
| 2016 | 17 ha | 24 ha | 41 ha |
| 2017 | 22 ha | 149 ha | 171 ha |
| 2018 | under 1 ha | 7 ha | 8 ha |
| 2019 | 2 ha | 17 ha | 19 ha |
| 2020 | 42 ha | 44 ha | 87 ha |
| 2021 | 45 ha | 59 ha | 104 ha |
| 2022 | 9 ha | 46 ha | 56 ha |
| 2023 | 14 ha | 69 ha | 84 ha |
| 2024 | 38 ha | 157 ha | 195 ha |
| 2025 | 1 ha | 45 ha | 46 ha |
Forest loss is speeding up: about 97 hectares a year in 2021–2025, up from 65 hectares a year in 2016–2020. The worst year was 2002, when about 1,540 hectares of forest were lost.
What is causing deforestation in Xinjiang?
- Wildfirescan grow back30% · 3,020 ha
- Storms, floods and other natural causescan grow back25% · 2,500 ha
- Loggingcan grow back13% · 1,260 ha
Also: farms, pasture and plantations, mining and energy, towns and roads, unknown causes.
Causes for 2025 are estimates, based on what caused forest loss in the same places up to 2024.
Source: Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, Global Forest Change (GFC-2025-v1.13); causes: WRI/Google DeepMind drivers of forest loss; both CC BY 4.0, summed by Airleaf for each area. How it's measured
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Clean-air buying guides
Cleaner air at home in Xinjiang
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Good HEPA air purifiers under $200 at the makers' own prices, compared on verified clean air, room size and what the filters cost each year.
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