Studies　on　the　perception　of　air　pollution　in　China　are　very　limited.　The　aim　of　this　paper　is　to　help　to　fill　this　gap　by　analyzing　a　cross-sectional　dataset　of　759　residents　of　the　Jinchuan　mining　area,　Gansu　Province,　China.　The　estimations　suggest　that　perception　of　air　pollution　is　two-dimensional.　The　first　dimension　is　the　perceived　intensity　of　air　pollution　and　the　second　is　the　perceived　hazardousness　of　the　pollutants.　Both　dimensions　are　influenced　by　environmental　knowledge.　Perceived　intensity　is　furthermore　influenced　by　socio-economic　status　and　proximity　to　the　pollution　source;　perceived　hazardousness　is　influenced　by　socio-economic　status,　family　health　experience,　family　size　and　proximity　to　the　pollution　source.　There　are　no　reverse　effects　from　perception　on　environmental　knowledge.　The　main　conclusion　is　that　virtually　all　Jinchuan　residents　perceive　high　intensity　and　hazardousness　of　air　pollution　despite　the　fact　that　public　information　on　air　pollution　and　its　health　impacts　is　classified　to　a　great　extent.　It　is　suggested　that,　to　assist　the　residents　to　take　appropriate　preventive　action,　the　local　government　should　develop　counseling　and　educational　campaigns　and　institutionalize　disclosure　of　air　quality　conditions.　These　programs　should　pay　special　attention　to　young　residents　who　have　limited　knowledge　of　air　pollution　in　the　Jinchuan　mining　area.