Lanzhou was found to be the most polluted capital city in China of 2012, according to the Annual Report on Environment Development of China (2013) released on April 11. Beijing, the capital of China, was second worst on the list.

According to daily air quality figures of major cities released by China's Ministry of Environment, the report listed 31 cities and municipals air quality index, including days with Grade 1 (excellent air quality) and Grade 2 level (good), days with sulfur dioxide, days with nitrogen dioxide and the days with inhalable air particles.

The coastal city Haikou in China's southernmost province claimed the top spot as the county's least polluted city for five consecutive years. Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu Province in Northwest China, ranks as the worst for four consecutive years.

The report was published by Friends of Nature, the oldest environmental NGO in China. It has published the annual environment report of China for eight consecutive years.

Friends of Nature also released the top 10 public participated environmental protection incidents during its press conference.

Also read:Top 10 least polluted Chinese cities in 2012

The following are the top 10 most polluted Chinese cities in 2012:

  Zhengzhou

Rank in 2012:22

Rank in 2011:24

Rank in 2010:19

Rank in 2009:16

Rank in 2008:14