As many as 339 Chinese cities at or above the prefecture level experienced good or excellent air quality for an average of 86.3 percent of the days from January to August this year – the same as last year, according to data released by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment on Tuesday.

In the past eight months, the average concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 were recorded at 28 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3) and 49 μg/m3, down 3.4 percent and 7.5 percent, respectively, from the same period last year. 

In addition, the average concentration of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide decreased by 11.1 percent and 13.6 percent, respectively, but the average ozone concentration reached 145 μg/m3, rising 3.6 percent compared with the same period last year.

As an important yardstick to trace the progress of China's carbon peaking and neutrality goals, the air quality in urban areas has been improving due to the development of green, low-carbon and circular economy.

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