Based on hourly observation data of

PM2.5

and

NO

2

concentrations at Beijing traffic stations during the Spring Festival from 2014 to 2018

the effects of vehicle emission reduction and fireworks forbidden and the impacts of emissions from fireworks and meteorological conditions on air quality were analyzed by comparing concentration characteristics and ratio of

PM2.5

to CO The results showed that characteristics of

PM2.5

and

NO

2

concentrations were different during the Spring Festival. The average

PM2.5

concentrations from 2014-2018 were 103.6 μg/

m

3

and 25.3% higher than those before and after the Spring Festival. Significantly affected by vehicle emission reduction at traffic stations

the

NO

2

concentration was 53.8 μg/

m

3

and 19.5% lower than those before and after the Spring Festival. The concentrations of

PM2.5

during the Spring Festival was lowest in 2014

and decreased year by year from 2015-2018. The burning of fireworks had relatively greater impacts on

PM2.5

than

NO

2

During the New Years Eve

the maximum contribution of hourly

PM2.5

concentration from burning fireworks was 283.4-704.1 μg/

m

3

Compared with the average of the previous four years

the concentrations of

PM2.5

decreased by 25.2% and

NO

2

reduced by only 2.4%

which implied

PM2.5

pollution was improved significantly by the measures of banning fireworks within the Fifth Ring Road in 2018. Under the meteorological conditions unfavorable to atmospheric diffusion

the maximum contribution of

PM2.5

concentration during the New Year’s Eve was still 45.0% lower than that of the previous four years

indicating great reduction effect of fireworks prohibition measures. The effect of meteorological conditions on the

PM2.5

during the Spring Festival was more significant than those of

NO

2

. The meteorological condition favorable for atmospheric diffusion was the main reason for the great improvement of

PM2.5

pollution in 2014.