Although high-speed rail (HSR) can reduce the total pollutant emission in intercity travel by replacing road travel, the scope of air pollution caused by vehicles is narrow, suggesting that HSR operation has limited impact on improving urban air quality. However, many studies have confirmed that the opening of HSR does significantly improve air quality in urban districts where HSR stations are located, and the improvements occur in real time. To study the real-time pathways through which this effect arises, this paper discovered the relationship between the opening of HSR, urban transportation, and urban air quality using mediation effect theory. The results showed that HSR has no significant direct impact on improving urban air quality, but mainly affected urban air quality indirectly and in real-time through urban transportation. This paper has identified and confirmed the real-time impact path of HSR on urban air quality, and provided some suggestions related to intercity travel and green tourism to promote the development of green consumption.
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