The air pollution in Chiang Mai has received a lot of attention on Xiaohongshu, a popular Chinese social media platform focused on lifestyle. Chiang Mai was recently named the most polluted city in the world based on the Air Quality Index (AQI), sparking widespread criticism.
Ai Chong mentioned on Facebook that the hashtag “smog season in Chiang Mai” has gained about 50,000 views, and another hashtag “air pollution” has attracted over 17 million views, when discussing events and lifestyles in China.
One post expresses frustration with the pollution in Chiang Mai, saying “Goodbye Chiang Mai. I'll come back next time because the smog problem is unbearable.”
Ai Chong believes that although the “smog season in Chiang Mai” hashtag hasn't gone viral yet, the pollution will have a long-term negative impact on the city's reputation. They shared the criticism on Xiaohongshu with the intention of bringing attention to the issue and urging Thai authorities to address it seriously and sustainably.
CNN's report on the pollution in Chiang Mai highlighted that the airborne pollutants are 20 times higher than the World Health Organization's standard. The issue is attributed to the burning of farm waste for the next crop cycle preparation.
Currently, Chiang Mai ranks as the world’s fifth most polluted city, according to the real-time AQI.
