The atmospheric environmental capacity has become a hot topic in air quality management studies in China,since it plays an important role in supporting the design and implementation of air pollution control measures.By studying the literature and summarizing the relevant practical work in this field at country,region and city levels,we systematically reviewed the development of atmospheric environment capacity theory and the methods used to quantify the capacity.The concept of atmospheric environment capacity and its natural,social and resource characteristics were analyzed.The pattern of development of the theoretical research as well as the practices of measuring atmospheric environmental capacity are summarized in four stages with consideration of the major air pollution challenges and atmospheric pollution management modes.The theory of the atmospheric environmental capacity as well as the advantages and disadvantages of different quantification methods,including the A value method,linear optimization method and model simulation method,were analyzed considering the major air pollution challenges to address,including coal-burning pollution,acid rain pollution and complex air pollution.The conclusion is drawn that the model simulation method is able to take account of the influence of natural factors and human factors and is a better choice for quantifying atmospheric environmental capacity when PM_(2.5) and O_3 pollution control is the target.It is suggested that research be strengthened in the following aspects:(1) Methods for quantifying the atmospheric environmental capacity constrained by multi-pollutant targets;(2) Methods for quantifying the atmospheric environmental capacity for typical heavy pollution episodes;(3) Methods for quantifying the coupling of the atmospheric environmental capacity with various factors such as air quality,health damage,ecological damage,and climate change.