Shenyang - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
I would rate the air quality as moderate. The air quality isn't as bad as I expected, but we still check the AQI to see about the air quality each day before going out. There are weeks when it can be really bad and you avoid going outside, but it usually doesn't last more than a few days in a row. There are generally a lot of dust and allergens in the air - even in the winter time, I struggle with allergies. Also, people smoke a LOT so that is annoying. Smoking is still allowed in restaurants. - Jun 2024
Bad. Seriously bad. Bad enough that you don't leave your house for days on end, even with masks available. It's hard to express just how much it wears on you to be dealing with pollution issues for weeks at a time. - Mar 2019
"Apocalyptic" is almost a hackneyed term to label the air here, but it's the best descriptor. Chinese air is famously bad. In the winter, when the coal-burning is at its peak, I have to wear a mask (N95) about 50% of the time. The local government is aware of the problem, and is committed to fixing it, but there is no easy solution. We watch the AQI monitor apps on our phones, and wear masks when it gets too high. Everyone has their own threshold for wearing a mask: mine is 150. Some people who live in Beijing say that their threshold is 300. No amount of PM 2.5 is safe, so in theory, I should wear a mask every day. We are lucky in that the Consulate puts air filters in our apartment, so the air inside is clean. That means that on some particularly bad days we stay inside all day. - Jul 2016
Shenyang's air quality index can reach the worst heights imaginable (as high as Beijing), but it also has its clear days. Those with respiratory issues should not consider Shenyang and those with kids with developing lungs will spend much of their time indoors near the drone of air purifiers. - Aug 2014
Air quality can be terrible. It can also be fine - it just depends on the time of year. Lots of coal smells before the government turns on the heat on November 1st but not as bad as Beijing. It is ranked 34 in China, with an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 102. - Nov 2013
