The　Chinese　government　has　imposed　strict　policies　on　coal-fired　power　plants　and　achieved　considerable　environmental　benefits.　However,　whether　coal-fired　power　plants　still　impact　air　pollution　needs　further　testing.　Here,　we　adopted　a　Difference-In-Differences　model　to　compare　air　quality　stations　less　and　more　impacted　by　nearby　coal-fired　power　plants＇　production　activities　during　the　strict　lockdowns　over　the　pandemic　outbreaks.　The　less　operation　of　coal-fired　power　plants　during　lockdowns,　or　caused　by　industrial　and　transportation　sector　shutdowns,　drives　down　AQI　by　up　to　2.884　units,　NO2　by　1.543　mu　g/m3,　PM10　by　3.727　mu　g/m3,　and　PM2.5　by　2.220　mu　g/m3.　Our　results　support　the　argument　that　coal-fired　power　plants　contributed　significantly　to　air　pollution.　However,　such　significant　influences　differ　across　cities　with　economic　levels,　electricity　usage,　population　sizes,　and　between　capital　and　non-capital　cities.　The　technological　upgrades　are　essential　for　addressing　further　emission　control　issues　to　improve　air　quality.