The temporal and spatial variations of air pollutant concentrations, and types of pollution were investigated during heavy air pollution episodes occurred in Beijing from 2013 to 2014. The results showed that there were 105heavy pollution days in Beijing during 2013~2014, accounting for 14.4% of the total. And in these heavy air pollution episodes, Beijing suffered the PM_2.5, PM₁₀ and O₃ as the primary pollutant for 103 days, 1day and 1day, respectively. The heavy pollution days in the winter half year accounted for 76.2%, and pollution episodes could be characterized by calm wind, high relative humidity and low visibility. For the heavy air pollution days, the concentration ratio of PM_2.5 to PM₁₀ reached to 91.3% which was significantly higher than the annual average level, indicating that PM_2.5 was dominant. Air pollutant concentrations in the southern region of Beijing were higher than those in the northern parts. Areas with higher air pollutant concentrations were mainly located in the plains, and lower values are located in the mountain regions. Moreover, the frequency of heavy air pollution for traffic monitoring sites was higher than other urban sites in Beijing. The heavy air pollution episodes could be grouped into four typical types, namely the sustained-accumulated, the O₃ pollution, the sand-dust caused and the combined type. The sustained-accumulated episodes were always accompanied by enhancements of regional air pollution level for the whole city, and by obvious increase of NO₃^-, SO₄^2- and NH₄⁺ concentrations in PM_2.5. It is also found that O₃ pollution became more serious in recent years.