Real-time　aerosol　extinction　retrieved　by　Micro-pulse　LIDAR　and　concentrations　of　PM2.5　and　PM10　in　Beijing　were　analyzed　to　investigate　the　air　quality　during　the　Spring　Festival.　The　results　showed　that　fireworks　on　the　New　Year＇s　Eve　resulted　in　a　sharp　increase　in　particulate　matter　concentrations　in　a　short　time.　The　maximum　concentration　of　PM2.5　at　Guanyuan　station　was　639.3　μg·m-3,　which　increased　by　nearly　30　times　in　9　h.　The　maximum　hourly　concentration　of　particulate　matter　at　Dingling　and　Liulihe　suburban　stations　were　significantly　higher　than　that　in　Guanyuan　station,　the　maximum　values　were　more　than　1　000　μg·m-3.　The　particulate　matter　levels　were　continuously　high　on　February　10-12　and　the　concentration　of　particulate　matter　at　Dingling　and　Liulihe　suburban　stations　were　higher　than　that　at　Guanyuan.　LIDAR　results　showed　no　obvious　changes　in　the　extinction　coefficient　at　Dingling　on　the　New　Year＇s　Eve.　The　extinction　coefficient　at　Liulihe　was　greater　than　1　km-1,　but　the　particulate　matter　pollution　was　concentrated　at　altitudes　less　than　400　m.　The　extinction　coefficient　at　Chegongzhuang　was　still　higher　than　0.4　km-1　at　500　m;　however,　the　duration　of　pollution　was　shorter　than　that　of　Liulihe.　The　extinction　coefficients　at　105　m　at　all　three　stations　during　the　New　Year＇s　Eve　were　significantly　higher　than　those　at　405　m.　There　were　significant　differences　in　the　vertical　extinction　characteristics　of　the　three　sites.　The　background　maximum　values　of　Dingling,　Chegongzhuang,　and　Liulihe　were　0.09　km-1,　0.20　km-1,　and　0.19　km-1　under　1.0　km,　respectively.　The　maximum　extinction　coefficients　at　00:00　(midnight)　were　0.23　km-1,　1.36　km-1,　and　1.19　km-1,　which　were　2.6　times,　6.8　times,　and　6.0　times　higher　than　the　background　value　at　the　same　time,　respectively.　In　summary,　discharge　of　fireworks　led　to　a　dramatic　increase　in　the　extinction　coefficient　of　particulate　matter.　Temperature　inversion　and　lower　wind　speeds　were　the　main　meteorological　factors　that　contributed　to　this　pollution　event.　©　2017,　Science　Press.　All　right　reserved.