To investigate the variation rules, pollution characteristics, and their regional transport of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) components in different seasons from Hohhot and Wuhai cities. In this study, the concentration of PM_2.5 and its chemical components, such as water-soluble ions, organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), and metallic elements, and meteorological data, were obtained from the atmospheric super station in June-August and December of 2022, and January-February of 2023 from Hohhot and Wuhai. The sources and transport paths were also analyzed according to the Positive Definite Matrix Factor Decomposition (PMF) model and the Backward Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model. PM_2.5 mass concentration in winter was higher than that in summer in both cities. PM_2.5 mass concentration in Wuhai was higher than that in Hohhot in the same season. PM_2.5 in both cities is alkaline in winter and summer. The alkalinity of PM_2.5 in Hohhot was stronger than that in Wuhai during summer, and weaker than that in Wuhai during winter. The content of K, Mn, Cu, Ba, Ti, K⁺, and Cl^- in PM_2.5 in winter was higher than that in summer in the two cities. The two cities were more affected by biomass combustion, coal-fired emissions, and motor vehicle emissions in winter. PM_2.5 in Hohhot during summer mainly came from combustion sources, secondary inorganic sources, industrial sources, soil dust sources, and mixed sources motor of vehicle and road dust, while in winter it mainly came from coal combustion sources, biomass combustion sources, secondary inorganic sources, soil dust sources, mixed sources of motor vehicle and road dust, and mechanical wear sources. PM_2.5 in Wuhai during summer mainly came from combustion sources, secondary inorganic sources, industrial sources, soil dust sources, motor vehicle sources, road dust sources, while in winter it mainly came from combustion sources, secondary inorganic sources, industrial sources, soil dust sources, mixed sources of motor vehicle and road dust, and mechanical wear sources. Hohhot city was dominated by secondary sources in both summer and winter. Wuhai city was dominated by the mixture of motor vehicle and road dust in summer, while by secondary inorganic sources in winter. Hohhot City was mainly affected by air currents from southern Shanxi Province, northern Shaanxi Province, and southern Mongolia in summer, with potential source areas being southern Shanxi Province, southern Hebei Province, and northern Henan Province. Wuhai was mainly affected by air currents from eastern Xinjiang, Alxa League, southern Shaanxi Province, and Bayannur City in summer. Hohhot and Wuhai were affected by air currents from Alxa League and southern Mongolia in winter, with the difference that PM_2.5 transport in Wuhai in winter was also affected by air currents from northern Xinjiang. The potential source areas for winter in Hohhot are local, Baotou., Bayannur, Ordos, northeastern Alashan League, and the southern region of Mongolia, while that in Wuhai City during summer and winter were the eastern part of Xinjiang, Hexi Corridor region, Alashan League, Ordos City, Ulanqab City, and Wuhai City. The research results provide data support for the prevention and control of air pollution in typical cities along the Yellow River Basin.