We went over all of this last night. There is a similar distribution of SO2 around other Chinese cities. And there is a similar distribution of NOx with the SO2. These are pollutants from burning shitty gasoline. Look at the maps for yourself:
https://www.windy.com/-Show—add-more-layers/overlays?cams,no2,29.444,110.544,7
It doesn't show what these fear-porn mongers are saying it shows.