Ground-basedMulti-AXis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) measurements were performed at Shangdianzi (SDZ) regional atmospheric background station in north China from March 2009 to February 2011. The tropospheric NO2 vertical column densities (VCDs) were retrieved to investigate the background condition of the Beijing- Tianjin-Hebei developed economic circle in China. The seasonal variation of mean NO2 tropospheric VCDs (VCDTrop) at SDZ is apparent, with the maximum(1.3 × 1016 molec/cm2) in February and the minimum (3.5 × 1015 molec/cm2) in August, much lower than those observed at the Beijing city center. The average daytime dial variations of NO2 VCDTrop are rather consistent for all four seasons, presenting the minimum at noon and the higher values in the ming and evening. The largest and lowest amplitudes of NO2 VCDTrop dial variation appear in winter and in summer, respectively. The dial patt at SDZ station is similar to those at other less polluted stations, but distinct from the ones at the urban or polluted stations. Tropospheric NO2 VCDs at SDZ are strongly dependent on the wind, with the higher values being associated with the pollution plumes from Beijing city. Tropospheric NO2 VCDs derived from ground-based MAX-DOAS at SDZ show to be well correlated with corresponding OMI (Ozone Monitoring Instrument) satellite products with a correlation coefficient R = 0.88. However, the OMI observations are on average higher than MAX-DOAS NO2 VCDs by a factor of 28％, probably due to the OMI grid cell partly covering the south of SDZ which is influenced more by the pollution plumes from the urban areas.