Determination of the key socio-economic factors driving the increase in PM_2.5 intensity is essential for ensuring atmospheric governance. The majority of the extant studies on the drivers of PM_2.5 in China have adopted an econometric approach, but lack the analysis of industrial, regional, and temporal heterogeneity. This study integrates the advantages of index decomposition and production-theory decomposition to analyse the determinants of energy consumption related PM_2.5 in different regions and industries in China. The decomposition results indicate that factor substitution and technological progress make the largest contribution to the reduction in the PM_2.5 intensity in China, whereas the cumulative effect of technical efficiency is negative. The emission reduction potential is lower in developed regions but higher in heavy industrial provinces. The overall rebound effect of PM_2.5 in China is approximately 32.44%, with central and western regions and the primary industry exhibiting the largest effect. Those empirical results and heterogeneity are visualized and analysed accordingly, which can provide a reference for the pollution control of PM_2.5 in China.